Method for controlling information apparatus and computer-readable recording medium

ABSTRACT

A method of controlling information apparatus is provided. Illumination devices are displayed in room units. In response to a selection of a first illumination device in a first room unit, a first room corresponding to the first room unit is displayed with first brightness not lower than second brightness of a background image when the first illumination device is in an on-state. In response to a selection of the first illumination device, the first room is displayed with third brightness lower than the second brightness when the first illumination device is in an off-state. A first control command is output to network for turning off power of the first illumination device, when the first room with the first brightness is selected. A second control command is output to network for turning on power of the first illumination device, when the first room with the third brightness is selected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/943,513, filed on Nov. 17, 2015, which is a continuationapplication of International Application No. PCT/JP2014/003623, filed onJul. 8, 2014, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No.61/955,373, filed on Mar. 19, 2014, the entire contents of which arehereby incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling aninformation apparatus and a computer-readable recording medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Technologies for remotely monitoring or remotely controlling one or moretarget devices using one remote controller are proposed (see PatentDocument 1).

Patent Document 1 discloses a user interface of an illumination system.When an icon associated with a certain light source is dragged into atarget region on a screen and moved toward the center of the targetregion, the intensity of light from the corresponding light source isincreased.

However, Patent Documents 1 described above needs a further improvement.

CITATION LIST Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5128489

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one general aspect, the techniques disclosed here feature a methodfor controlling an information apparatus having a display and beingconnected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled overthe network,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display a display screen which specifies each of two ormore illumination devices including a first illumination device;

when selection of the first illumination device is detected on thedisplay screen, display on the display a first room screen representinga room in which the first illumination device is arranged, either withbrightness not lower than predetermined brightness when the firstillumination device is in an on-state or with brightness lower than thepredetermined brightness when the first illumination device is in anoff-state;

output to the network a first control command for turning off power ofthe first illumination device when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected while the first room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness not lower than thepredetermined brightness; and

output to the network a second control command for turning on power ofthe first illumination device when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected while the first room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness lower than the predeterminedbrightness.

According to the aspect described above, it is possible to embody afurther improvement. These general and specific aspects may beimplemented using a system, a method, and a computer program, and anycombination of systems, methods, and computer programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a home controlsystem to which a home controller according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing main devices to be controlled by the homecontroller.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the homecontroller, a device, and a server.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the form ofimplementation of the home controller.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a basic screen of the homecontroller.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen in a firstcontrol pattern.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the firstcontrol pattern.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the firstcontrol pattern.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the firstcontrol pattern.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the firstcontrol pattern.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen in the first control pattern.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of adisplay screen in the first control pattern.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a control screen in thefirst control pattern.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen due to a device switching button in the first control pattern.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen in a secondcontrol pattern.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in thesecond control pattern.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in thesecond control pattern.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in thesecond control pattern.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in thesecond control pattern.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen in the second control pattern.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of adisplay screen in the second control pattern.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of a control screen in thesecond control pattern.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen due to a room switching button in the second control pattern.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen in a thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen in the thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an example of a control screen in the thirdcontrol pattern.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen in the third control pattern.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of adisplay screen in the third control pattern.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing another example of a control screen in thethird control pattern.

FIG. 33A is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen due to a room switching button in the third control pattern.

FIG. 33B is a diagram showing an example of a transition of a displayscreen due to a floor switching button in the third control pattern.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto an example of light quantity decrease control of an illuminationdevice.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto an example of light quantity increase control of an illuminationdevice.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto another example of light quantity decrease control of an illuminationdevice.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto another example of light quantity increase control of an illuminationdevice.

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a configuration of a device list.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a configuration of room information.

FIG. 40 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller detects a device on a network upon connecting to thenetwork.

FIG. 41 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller detects a device on a network when the device connectsto the network.

FIG. 42 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller directly controls a device.

FIG. 43 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller controls a device via a server.

FIG. 44 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller acquires a state of a device from a server.

FIG. 45 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller directly controls a device in a case where the homecontroller controls a plurality of devices by a single operation.

FIG. 46 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller controls a device via a server in a case where the homecontroller controls a plurality of devices by a single operation.

FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which ahome controller controls a device via a server in a case where the homecontroller controls a plurality of devices by a single operation.

FIG. 48 is a flow chart showing an overall process of a home controllerin the first control pattern.

FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing an overall process of a home controllerin the second control pattern.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing an overall process of a home controllerin the third control pattern.

FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing a room icon display update process thatis executed in S5005 in FIG. 50.

FIG. 52 is a flow chart showing an illumination control screen displayprocess that is executed in S4806 in FIG. 48, S4906 in FIG. 49, andS5009 in FIG. 50.

FIG. 53 is a flow chart showing an illumination control screen displayprocess that is executed in S4806 in FIG. 48, S4906 in FIG. 49, andS5009 in FIG. 50.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart showing a control screen display process ofanother device that is executed in S4807 in FIG. 48, S4907 in FIG. 49,and S5010 in FIG. 50.

FIG. 55 is a flow chart showing a control command transmission processthat is executed in S5305 in FIG. 53 and S5404 in FIG. 54.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Circumstances Leading to the Invention of an Aspectof the Present Disclosure

First, viewpoints of an aspect according to the present disclosure willbe described.

Patent Document 1 described above only discloses controlling anillumination device for each room such as a bedroom. Therefore, PatentDocument 1 does not consider controlling illumination devices used onone floor including two or more rooms. For example, an illuminationdevice in a room corresponding to a first target region may be turned onby moving an icon from the outside of the first target region to theinside of the first target region. However, when an icon is moved fromthe first target region to a second target region that is adjacent tothe first target region, the icon is moved into the second targetregion. Therefore, although an illumination device in a roomcorresponding to the second target region is turned on, an illuminationdevice in a room corresponding to the first target region is turned offsince the icon is moved out of the first target region, which is aproblem.

In Patent Document 1 described above, in addition, the icon is initiallypositioned outside the target region, and moved into the target regionto dim the illumination device. This leads to a problem in which it isdifficult to discriminate to which room the icon corresponds in the casewhere Patent Document 1 is applied to a display screen representing afloor plan for one floor including two or more rooms.

This also complicates an operation of moving the icon itself into eachof the two or more target regions. There is a problem that the operationis particularly complicated in the case where two rooms for which it isdesired to turn on the illumination device are not adjacent to but awayfrom each other.

Based on the considerations described above, the inventors haveconceived various aspects of the present disclosure to be describedbelow.

A first aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling aninformation apparatus having a display and being connected to a network,one or more target devices being controlled over the network,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display a display screen which specifies each of two ormore illumination devices including a first illumination device;

when selection of the first illumination device is detected on thedisplay screen, display on the display a first room screen representinga first room in which the first illumination device is arranged, eitherwith brightness not lower than predetermined brightness when the firstillumination device is in an on-state or with brightness lower than thepredetermined brightness when the first illumination device is in anoff-state;

output to the network a first control command for turning off power ofthe first illumination device when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected while the first room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness not lower than thepredetermined brightness; and

output to the network a second control command for turning on power ofthe first illumination device when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected while the first room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness lower than the predeterminedbrightness.

According to the present aspect, when selection of the firstillumination device (the second illumination device) is detected on thedisplay screen, a first room screen (a second room screen) representinga first room in which the first illumination device (the secondillumination device) is displayed on the display with brightness notlower than predetermined brightness when the first illumination device(the second illumination device) is in an on-state or displayed on thedisplay with brightness lower than the predetermined brightness when thefirst illumination device (the second illumination device) is in anoff-state.

Accordingly, in a first room in which the first illumination device (thesecond illumination device) whose selection has been detected isarranged, whether the first illumination device (the second illuminationdevice) is in an on-state or an off-state can be identified immediately.

Therefore, in a first room in which the first illumination device (thesecond illumination device) whose selection has been detected isarranged, if the first illumination device (the second illuminationdevice) is in an on-state, the first room screen (the second roomscreen) is displayed with brightness not lower than the predeterminedbrightness. As a result, an operation for turning on power of the firstillumination device (the second illumination device) can be preventedfrom being performed by mistake. In this manner, a misoperation in whichpower of an illumination device arranged in a given room is turned oneven though the illumination device is in an on-state can be prevented.

In a similar manner, in a first room in which the first illuminationdevice (the second illumination device) whose selection has beendetected is arranged, if the first illumination device (the secondillumination device) is in an off-state, the first room screen (thesecond room screen) is displayed with brightness lower than thepredetermined brightness. As a result, an operation for turning offpower of the first illumination device (the second illumination device)can be prevented from being performed by mistake. In this manner, amisoperation in which power of an illumination device arranged in agiven room is turned off even though the illumination device is in anoff-state can be prevented.

In addition, a room screen corresponding to a room in which each of twoor more illumination devices is arranged is displayed to represent anon/off state of an illumination device whose selection is detected onthe room screen. Therefore, a misoperation of an illumination devicearranged in a different room can be prevented from being performed.

Furthermore, by displaying a room screen corresponding to a room inwhich each of the two or more illumination devices is arranged, anillumination device arranged in a room corresponding to the room screencan be recognized as a control target.

According to the present aspect, when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected, on/off of power of a first illuminationdevice corresponding to the first room screen can be controlled.Therefore, the need to perform a complicated operation involving takingthe trouble of moving an icon from outside of each object region toinside of each object region as in the case of Patent Document 1 can beeliminated. Instead, on/off of power of a first illumination device thatis a control target can be readily controlled by a simple operation onlyinvolving selecting inside a region of the first room screen thatcorresponds to a room in which the first illumination device isarranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved.

Furthermore, a simple operation may suffice even when two rooms withillumination devices to be turned on are rooms that are separated fromone another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example,

the two or more illumination devices may include a second illuminationdevice, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

when selection of the second illumination device is detected on thedisplay screen, display on the display a second room screen representinga second room in which the second illumination device is arranged,either with brightness not lower than the predetermined brightness whenthe second illumination device is in an on-state or with brightnesslower than the predetermined brightness when the second illuminationdevice is in an off-state;

output to the network a third control command for turning off power ofthe second illumination device when selection inside a region of thesecond room screen is detected while the second room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness not lower than thepredetermined brightness; and

output to the network a fourth control command for turning on power ofthe second illumination device when selection inside a region of thesecond room screen is detected while the second room screen is beingdisplayed on the display with brightness lower than the predeterminedbrightness.

According to the present aspect, when selection inside a region of thesecond room screen is detected, on/off of power of a second illuminationdevice corresponding to the second room screen can be controlled.Therefore, the need to perform a complicated operation involving takingthe trouble of moving an icon from outside of each object region toinside of each object region as in the case of Patent Document 1 can beeliminated. Instead, on/off of power of a second illumination devicethat is a control target can be readily controlled by a simple operationonly involving selecting inside a region of the second room screen thatcorresponds to a room in which the second illumination device isarranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved.

Furthermore, a simple operation may suffice even when two rooms withillumination devices to be turned on are rooms that are separated fromone another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example, thedisplay may comprise a touch panel display.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a fifth control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thefifth control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device in accordance with an amount of movement ofthe contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of the firstillumination device is changed by simply detecting that a contact madewith the display continues on the first room screen and that a contactposition moves. Accordingly, there is no need to separately display abutton or the like for changing the light quantity of the firstillumination device on the first room screen. As a result, a pluralityof operations including turning on/off power and dimming can be realizedon the first room screen with a limited display area while minimizingdisplay materials to be displayed.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example, the fifthcontrol command may be used for changing the light quantity of theillumination device more as the amount of the movement increases.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a sixth control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thesixth control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device in accordance with a direction of movement ofthe contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of the firstillumination device is changed by simply detecting that a contact madewith the display continues on the first room screen and that a contactposition moves. Accordingly, there is no need to separately display abutton or the like for changing the light quantity of the firstillumination device on the first room screen. As a result, a pluralityof operations including turning on/off power and dimming can be realizedon the first room screen with a limited display area while minimizingdisplay materials to be displayed.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example,

the sixth control command may be used for increasing the light quantityof the first illumination device when the direction of movement isupward on the first room screen and may be used for decreasing the lightquantity of the first illumination device when the direction of movementis downward on the first room screen.

In addition, in the first aspect described above, for example,

the first room screen may be displayed on the display with brightnessequal to the predetermined brightness when the first illumination deviceis in an on-state, and

the second room screen may be displayed on the display with brightnessequal to the predetermined brightness when the second illuminationdevice is in an on-state.

According to the present aspect, the first room screen (the second roomscreen) is displayed on the display with brightness equal topredetermined brightness when the first illumination device (the secondillumination device) is in an on-state. In other words, the first roomscreen (the second room screen) is displayed with brightness identicalto that of the display screen when the first illumination device (thesecond illumination device) is in an on-state. On the other hand, thefirst room screen (the second room screen) is displayed on the displaywith brightness lower than the predetermined brightness when the firstillumination device (the second illumination device) is in an off-state.Accordingly, even in the present aspect, in a room in which the firstillumination device (the second illumination device) whose selection hasbeen detected is arranged, whether the first illumination device (thesecond illumination device) is in an on-state or an off-state can beidentified immediately in a similar manner to the first aspect describedearlier.

A second aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling aninformation apparatus having a display and being connected to a network,one or more target devices being controlled over the network,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display a display screen which specifies two or moreillumination devices in room units;

when selection of any of the two or more illumination devices in a firstroom unit is detected on the display screen, display on the display afirst room screen representing a first room corresponding to the firstroom unit in which the selection is detected, either with brightness notlower than predetermined brightness when a first illumination devicearranged in the first room is in an on-state or with brightness lowerthan the predetermined brightness when the first illumination devicearranged in the first room is in an off-state;

output to the network a first control command for turning off power ofthe first illumination device arranged in the first room, when selectioninside a region of the first room screen is detected while the firstroom screen is being displayed on the display with brightness not lowerthan the predetermined brightness; and

output to the network a second control command for turning on power ofthe first illumination device arranged in the first room, when selectioninside a region of the first room screen is detected while the firstroom screen is being displayed on the display with brightness lower thanthe predetermined brightness.

According to the present aspect, when selection of any of the two ormore illumination devices in the first room unit (the second room unit)is detected on the display screen, a first room screen (a second roomscreen) representing a first room (a second room) that corresponds tothe first room unit (the second room unit) in which the selection isdetected is displayed on the display with brightness not lower thanpredetermined brightness when an illumination device arranged in thefirst room (the second room) is in an on-state or displayed on thedisplay with brightness lower than the predetermined brightness when theillumination device arranged in the first room (the second room) is inan off-state. The first room unit or the second room unit is, forexample, a room unit such as a “living room” or a “bedroom”. The firstroom or the second room is, for example, a room itself such as a “livingroom” or a “bedroom”.

Accordingly, whether an illumination device arranged in a first room (asecond room) that corresponds to the first room unit (the second roomunit) in which the selection has been detected is in an on-state or anoff-state can be identified immediately.

Therefore, if the illumination device arranged in the first room (thesecond room) that corresponds to the first room unit (the second roomunit) in which the selection has been detected is in an on-state, thefirst room screen (the second room screen) is displayed with brightnessnot lower than the predetermined brightness. As a result, an operationfor turning on power of the illumination device arranged in the firstroom (the second room) can be prevented from being performed by mistake.In this manner, a misoperation in which power of an illumination devicearranged in a given room is turned on even though the illuminationdevice is in an on-state can be prevented.

In a similar manner, if the illumination device arranged in the firstroom (the second room) that corresponds to the first room unit (thesecond room unit) in which the selection has been detected is in anoff-state, the first room screen (the second room screen) is displayedwith brightness lower than the predetermined brightness. As a result, anoperation for turning off power of the illumination device arranged inthe first room (the second room) can be prevented from being performedby mistake. In this manner, a misoperation in which power of anillumination device arranged in a given room is turned off even thoughthe illumination device is in an off-state can be prevented.

In addition, since a room screen corresponding to a room in which eachof two or more illumination devices is arranged is displayed torepresent an on/off state of an illumination device whose selection isdetected on the room screen, a misoperation of an illumination devicearranged in a different room can be prevented.

Furthermore, when selection of any of the two or more illuminationdevices in the first room unit (the second room unit) is detected on thedisplay screen, a first room screen (a second room screen) representinga first room (a second room) that corresponds to the first room unit(the second room unit) in which the selection is detected is displayed.Accordingly, the illumination device arranged in the first room (thesecond room) can be recognized as a control target.

According to the present aspect, when selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected, on/off of power of a first illuminationdevice installed in the first room can be controlled. Therefore, theneed to perform a complicated operation involving taking the trouble ofmoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1 can be eliminated.Instead, on/off of power of a first illumination device which is acontrol target and which is arranged in the first room can be readilycontrolled by a simple operation only involving selecting inside aregion of the first room screen that corresponds to a room in which thefirst illumination device is arranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved.

Furthermore, a simple operation may suffice even when two rooms withillumination devices to be turned on are rooms that are separated fromone another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, the second aspect described above, for example, may furthercause the computer of the information apparatus to:

when selection of any of the two or more illumination devices in asecond room unit is detected on the display screen, display on thedisplay a second room screen representing a second room corresponding tothe second room unit in which the selection is detected, either withbrightness not lower than the predetermined brightness when a secondillumination device arranged in the second room is in an on-state orwith brightness lower than the predetermined brightness when the secondillumination device arranged in the second room is in an off-state;

output to the network a third control command for turning off power ofthe second illumination device arranged in the second room, whenselection inside a region of the second room screen is detected whilethe second room screen is being displayed on the display with brightnessnot lower than the predetermined brightness; and

output to the network a fourth control command for turning on power ofthe second illumination device arranged in the second room, whenselection inside a region of the second room screen is detected whilethe second room screen is being displayed on the display with brightnesslower than the predetermined brightness.

According to the present aspect, when selection inside a region of thesecond room screen is detected, on/off of power of a second illuminationdevice arranged in the second room can be controlled. Therefore, theneed to perform a complicated operation involving taking the trouble ofmoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1 can be eliminated.Instead, on/off of power of a second illumination device which is acontrol target and which is arranged in the second room can be readilycontrolled by a simple operation only involving selecting inside aregion of the second room screen that corresponds to a room in which thesecond illumination device is arranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved.

Furthermore, a simple operation may suffice even when two rooms withillumination devices to be turned on are rooms that are separated fromone another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example, when twoor more illumination devices are arranged in the first room, the firstcontrol command may be used to turn off power of the two or moreillumination devices, and the second eighth control command may be usedto turn on power of the two or more illumination devices.

Generally, there are cases where two or more illumination devices areinstalled in a same room such as a living room. According to the presentaspect, an operation of two or more illumination devices arranged in thefirst room that is represented by the first room screen is performed inroom units instead of device units. In this manner, illumination devicesarranged in each room can be controlled in room units instead of deviceunits. Therefore, a batch process can be performed.

In addition, when displaying a room screen for each illumination devicearranged in a same room, a room screen is to be individually displayedand operated for each illumination device even though the room in whicheach illumination device is displayed is the same room. According to thepresent aspect, if a room in which each illumination device is arrangedis the same room, the number of room screens to be displayed is reduced.Therefore, an operation burden on the user can be reduced.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a fifth control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thefifth control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device arranged in the first room in accordance withan amount of movement of the contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of an illuminationdevice arranged in the first room is changed by simply detecting that acontact made with the display continues on the first room screen andthat a contact position moves. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately display a button or the like for changing the light quantityof the illumination device arranged in the first room on the first roomscreen. As a result, a plurality of operations including turning on/offpower and dimming can be realized on the third room screen with alimited display area while minimizing display materials to be displayed.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the fifth control command may be used for changing the light quantity ofthe first illumination device more as the amount of the movementincreases.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a sixth control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thesixth control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device arranged in the first room in accordance witha direction of movement of the contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of an illuminationdevice arranged in the first room is changed by simply detecting that acontact made with the display continues on the first room screen andthat a contact position moves. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately display a button or the like for changing the light quantityof the illumination device arranged in the first room on the first roomscreen. As a result, a plurality of operations including turning on/offpower and dimming can be realized on the first room screen with alimited display area while minimizing display materials to be displayed.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the sixth control command may be used for increasing the light quantityof the first illumination device arranged in the first room when thedirection of the movement is upward on the first room screen or is usedfor decreasing the light quantity of the first illumination devicearranged in the first room when the direction of the movement isdownward on the first room screen.

In addition, in the second aspect described above, for example,

the first room screen may be displayed on the display with brightnessequal to the predetermined brightness when the illumination devicearranged in the first room is in an on-state, and

the second room screen may be displayed on the display with brightnessequal to the predetermined brightness when the illumination devicearranged in the second room is in an on-state.

According to the present aspect, the first room screen (the second roomscreen) is displayed on the display with brightness equal topredetermined brightness when an illumination device arranged in thefirst room (the second room) is in an on-state. In other words, thefirst room screen (the second room screen) is displayed on the displaywith brightness identical to that of the display screen when theillumination device arranged in the first room (the second room) is inan on-state. On the other hand, the first room screen (the second roomscreen) is displayed on the display with brightness lower than thepredetermined brightness when the illumination device arranged in thefirst room (the second room) is in an off-state. Accordingly, even inthe present aspect, whether an illumination device arranged in a firstroom (a second room) that corresponds to the first room unit (the secondroom unit) in which the selection has been detected is in an on-state oran off-state can be identified immediately in a similar manner to thesecond aspect described earlier.

A third aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling aninformation apparatus having a display and being connected to a network,one or more target devices being controlled over the network,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display a display screen including i) an instructionbutton for specifying a type of a target device that includes anillumination device and ii) a floor plan representing each room in abuilding;

display on the display a first room in the floor plan with brightnessnot lower than first brightness, when selection of the instructionbutton is detected on the display screen and when a first illuminationdevice is in an on-state in the first room;

display a first room screen corresponding to the first room withbrightness not lower than second brightness, when selection of the firstroom in the floor plan is detected and when the first room is displayedwith brightness not lower than the first brightness; and

output to the network a first control command for turning off power ofthe first illumination device arranged in the first room, when selectioninside a region of the first room screen is detected.

According to the present aspect, a display screen including i) aninstruction button for specifying a target device whose type is anillumination device and ii) a floor plan representing each room in abuilding is displayed on the display. In addition, when selection of theinstruction button is detected on the display screen, a first room (forexample, a “living room”) in the floor plan in which the illuminationdevice is in an on-state is displayed on the display with brightness notlower than first brightness.

Accordingly, in which room power of an illumination device is in anon-state or an off-state can be identified immediately.

Therefore, if the illumination device arranged in the first room is inan on-state, the first room (for example, the “living room”) isdisplayed with brightness not lower than the first brightness. As aresult, an operation for turning on power of the illumination devicearranged in the first room can be prevented from being performed bymistake. In this manner, a misoperation in which power of anillumination device arranged in a given room is turned on even thoughthe illumination device is in an on-state can be prevented.

In addition, the first room (for example, the “living room”) in thefloor plan in which the illumination device is in an on-state isdisplayed on the display with brightness not lower than the firstbrightness. Accordingly, an on/off state of an illumination devicearranged in each room in the floor plan is represented. Therefore, amisoperation of an illumination device arranged in a different room canbe prevented from being performed.

Furthermore, by representing an on/off state of an illumination devicearranged in each room in the floor plan, in which room an illuminationdevice to be a control target is arranged can be recognized.

According to the present aspect, if selection inside a region of thefirst room screen is detected, on/off of power of an illumination devicearranged in a first room (for example, the “living room”) correspondingto the first room screen can be controlled. Therefore, the need toperform a complicated operation involving taking the trouble of movingan icon from outside of each object region to inside of each objectregion as in the case of Patent Document 1 can be eliminated. Instead,on/off of power of an illumination device that is a control target canbe readily controlled by a simple operation only involving selectinginside a region of a room screen that corresponds to a room in which theillumination device is arranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved. Furthermore, a simple operation maysuffice even when two rooms with illumination devices to be turned onare rooms that are separated from one another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, the third aspect described above, for example, may furthercause the computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display a second room with brightness lower than thefirst brightness, when selection of the instruction button is detectedon the display screen and when a second illumination device is in anoff-state in the second room or is not yet installed in the second room;

display a second room screen corresponding to the second room withbrightness lower than the second brightness, when selection of thesecond room in the floor plan is detected and when the second room isdisplayed with brightness lower than the first brightness; and

output to the network a second control command for turning on power ofthe second illumination device arranged in the second room, whenselection inside a region of the second room screen is detected and whenthe second illumination device is installed in the second room.

According to the present aspect, a display screen including aninstruction button for specifying a target device whose type is anillumination device and a floor plan representing each room in abuilding is displayed on the display. In addition, when selection of theinstruction button is detected on the display screen, a second room (forexample, a “bathroom”) in the floor plan in which an illumination deviceis in an off-state or an illumination device is not yet installed isdisplayed on the display with brightness lower than the firstbrightness.

In a similar manner, if the illumination device arranged in the secondroom is in an off-state, the second room is displayed with brightnesslower than the first brightness. As a result, an operation for turningoff power of the illumination device arranged in the second room can beprevented from being performed by mistake. In this manner, amisoperation in which power of an illumination device arranged in agiven room is turned off even though the illumination device is in anoff-state can be prevented.

In addition, the second room (for example, the “bathroom”) in the floorplan in which an illumination device is in an off-state or anillumination device is not yet installed is displayed on the displaywith brightness lower than the first brightness. Accordingly, an on/offstate of an illumination device arranged in each room in the floor planis represented. Therefore, a misoperation of an illumination devicearranged in a different room can be prevented from being performed.

According to the present aspect, if selection inside a region of thesecond room screen is detected, on/off of power of an illuminationdevice arranged in a second room (for example, the “bathroom”)corresponding to the second room screen can be controlled. Therefore,the need to perform a complicated operation involving taking the troubleof moving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1 can be eliminated.Instead, on/off of power of an illumination device that is a controltarget can be readily controlled by a simple operation only involvingselecting inside a region of a room screen that corresponds to a room inwhich the illumination device is arranged.

In addition, on/off of an illumination device is not controlled bymoving an icon from outside of each object region to inside of eachobject region as in the case of Patent Document 1. Therefore, aninconvenience that, each time the icon is moved from a given room to anadjacent next room, an illumination device in the next room is turned onbut an illumination device in the given room is turned off against theintention of a user can be resolved. Furthermore, a simple operation maysuffice even when two rooms with illumination devices to be turned onare rooms that are separated from one another instead of adjacent rooms.

In addition, in the third aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a third control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thethird control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device arranged in the first room in accordance withan amount of movement of the contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of an illuminationdevice arranged in the first room is changed by simply detecting that acontact made with the display continues on the first room screen andthat a contact position moves. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately display a button or the like for changing the light quantityof the first illumination device arranged in the first room on the firstroom screen. As a result, a plurality of operations including turningon/off power and dimming can be realized on the first room screen with alimited display area while minimizing display materials to be displayed.

In addition, in the third aspect described above, for example, the thirdcontrol command may be used for changing the light quantity of the firstillumination device more as the amount of the movement increases.

In addition, in the third aspect described above, for example,

the display may comprise a touch panel display, and

the method may further cause the computer of the information apparatusto:

output to the network a fourth control command when a contact with thedisplay is detected on the first room screen and when it is detectedthat the contact with the display moves on the first room screen, thefourth control command being used for changing a light quantity of thefirst illumination device arranged in the first room in accordance witha direction of movement of the contact with the display.

According to the present aspect, a light quantity of a firstillumination device arranged in the first room is changed by simplydetecting that a contact made with the display continues on the firstroom screen and that a contact position moves. Accordingly, there is noneed to separately display a button or the like for changing the lightquantity of the first illumination device arranged in the first room onthe first room screen. As a result, a plurality of operations includingturning on/off power and dimming can be realized on the first roomscreen with a limited display area while minimizing display materials tobe displayed.

In addition, in the third aspect described above, for example,

the fourth control command may increase the light quantity of the firstillumination device arranged in the first room when the direction of themovement is upward on the first room screen or may decrease the lightquantity of the first illumination device arranged in the first roomwhen the direction of the movement is downward on the first room screen.

In addition, in the third aspect described above, for example,

the display screen may be displayed on the display with brightness equalto the first brightness, and

the first room may be displayed on the display with brightness equal tothe first brightness.

According to the present aspect, the first room is displayed on thedisplay with brightness equal to the first brightness. In other words,the first room which is a room in which an illumination device is in anon-state is displayed on the display with brightness identical to thatof the display screen. On the other hand, the second room which is aroom in which an illumination device is in an off-state or anillumination device is not yet installed is displayed on the displaywith brightness lower than the first brightness. Accordingly, even inthe present aspect, in which room power of an illumination device is inan on-state or an off-state can be identified immediately in a similarmanner to the third aspect described above.

Embodiment

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below withreference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same symbols are usedfor the same constituent elements.

In the embodiment, a home controller which can singly control one ormore devices will be described.

(Overall Configuration)

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a home controlsystem to which a home controller according to the embodiment isapplied. As shown in FIG. 1, the home control system includes a homecontroller 100, a device 200 (an example of a target device), and aserver 300.

The home controller 100 and one or more devices 200 (for example, adevice A 200 and a device B 200) are disposed in a house. The servers300 and a database 310 are disposed in a cloud center. The homecontroller 100, the device 200, and the servers 300 communicate witheach other via a wired or wireless network. For example, the device 200and the home controller 100 are communicably connected to each other viaa wireless or wired in-home network, and the home controller 100, thedevice 200, and the servers 300 are communicably connected to each othervia an external network such as the Internet.

As shown in FIG. 1, the home controller 100 is not necessarily disposedin the house, and includes one disposed outside the house (anout-of-house home controller A100, an out-of-house home controller B100,for instance). The out-of-house home controller A100 and theout-of-house home controller B100 may be a mobile terminal P100 and amobile terminal Q100, respectively. A user who owns the mobile terminalP100 and the mobile terminal Q100 controls the one or more devices 200from a location away from the home via the server 300.

An information terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal may beadopted as the home controller 100. It should be noted, however, thatthe smartphone and the tablet terminal are merely exemplary, and aninformation terminal of a button type such as a cellular phone may beadopted as the home controller 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the main devices 200 to be controlled by thehome controller 100. The home controller 100 controls the devices 200such as illumination devices 201, 202, 203 and 204, an air conditioningapparatus (hereinafter called “air conditioner”) 205, a bath 206, anelectronic lock 207, an electric shutter apparatus 208. The devices 200to be controlled by the home controller 100 may include a plurality ofdevices 200 of the same type such as the illumination devices 201, 202,203 and 204. An air conditioner is an apparatus for adjustingtemperature, humidity, cleanliness, and the like of air inside a room.Air conditioners include a cooling apparatus, a heating apparatus, acooling and heating apparatus, a humidifier, a dehumidifier, and an aircleaner. In this embodiment, the air conditioner 205 is a cooling andheating apparatus, for example.

The devices 200 such as the air conditioner 201 shown in FIG. 2 aremerely exemplary, and a television set, or a Blu-ray recorder, or anaudio device, or the like may be adopted as the devices 200. That is,any electrical device that functions to communicate with the homecontroller 100 may be adopted as the device 200. In FIG. 2, electricaldevices for use in ordinary households are shown as the devices 200.However, the embodiment is not limited thereto, and office devices foruse in offices or the like may be adopted as the devices 200. Examplesof the office devices include a printer, a personal computer, a scanner,and a copy machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the homecontroller 100, the device 200, and the server 300. As shown in FIG. 3,the home controller 100 includes a display 101, a touch panel controlsection 102, a display control section 103, a storage section 104, adevice management section 105, a device control section 106, and acommunication control section 107.

The display 101 is formed from a touch panel display, for example, anddisplays a user interface that allows the user to operate the homecontroller 100. The user can input various operations to the homecontroller 100 by contacting the display 101.

The touch panel control section 102 recognizes an operation performed onthe display 101 by the user, interprets the content of the operation,and notifies the other constituent elements of the content of theoperation. For example, if an object is displayed at a position on thedisplay 101 tapped on by the user, the touch panel control section 102determines that the object is selected by the user. A variety of GUIparts that receive a user operation such as buttons are adopted as theobject.

The display control section 103 generates a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) of the home controller 100, and causes the display 101 todisplay the GUI. The storage section 104 stores information that isnecessary for operation of the home controller 100 such as a device list3800 (FIG. 38 to be described later) managed by the device managementsection 105.

The device management section 105 manages the control target devices 200using the device list 3800 stored in the storage section 104. Inaddition, the device management section 105 detects a device 200 whenthe device 200 is connected to the in-home network. Further, the devicemanagement section 105 acquires the device list 3800 and roominformation 3900 to be discussed later from the server 300, stores theacquired device list 3800 and room information 3900 in the storagesection 104, and manages the device list 3800 and room information 3900.The device control section 106 issues a control command for the devices200. The communication control section 107 controls communicationbetween the home controller 100 and the devices 200 and communicationbetween the home controller 100 and the server 300. In addition, thecommunication control section 107 transmits a variety of data to thedevices 200 or the server 300 upon receiving a request to transmit suchdata from other blocks, and receives data transmitted from the devices200 or the server 300 to deliver the data to the relevant block.

The display 101 may be a normal display rather than a touch paneldisplay. In this case, the user may use an external input device such asa mouse (not shown) to input an instruction to select an object bymoving a pointer displayed on the display 101 and clicking on a desiredobject. That is, in the embodiment, a series of operations performed bythe user by contacting the display 101 may be replaced with operationsof moving a pointer and clicking using an external input device such asa mouse.

As shown in FIG. 3, the device 200 includes a control execution section211, a state management section 212, a storage section 214, and acommunication control section 217. The control execution section 211receives a control command from the home controller 100 or the server300, and controls the device 200 in accordance with the received controlcommand. The content of control of the device 200 performed by thecontrol execution section 211 differs in accordance with the type of thedevice 200. For example, if the device 200 is an illumination device,the control execution section 211 turns on and off the illuminationdevice. In addition, the control execution section 211 transmits theresult of execution of the control command and the state of the device200 to the home controller 100 or the server 300.

The state management section 212 manages the state of the device 200.The content of management of the device 200 performed by the statemanagement section 212 differs in accordance with the type of the device200. For example, if the device 200 is an illumination device, the statemanagement section 212 manages whether the illumination device iscurrently turned on or turned off. The storage section 214 storesinformation related to the state of the device 200 managed by the statemanagement section 212. The communication control section 217 controlscommunication between the device 200 and the home controller 100 andcommunication between the device 200 and the server 300. In addition,the communication control section 217 transmits a variety of data to thehome controller 100 or the server 300 upon receiving a request totransmit such data from other blocks, and receives data transmitted fromthe home controller 100 or the server 300 to deliver the data to therelevant block.

As shown in FIG. 3, the server 300 includes a device management section301, a device control section 302, a storage section 304, and acommunication control section 307. The device management section 301manages the devices 200 for each house or each user account. Inaddition, the device management section 301 transmits the device list3800 and room information 3900 to the home controller 100 in response toa request from the home controller 100. Further, the device managementsection 301 acquires log information related to the use history of thedevice 200 and information related to the state of the device 200 fromthe device 200, stores the acquired information in the storage section304, and manages the information.

The device control section 302 transmits a control command to the device200 in response to a request from the home controller 100. The storagesection 304 stores information that is necessary for operation of theserver 300 such as the device list 3800 and room information 3900 andthe information related to the state of the device 200 managed by thedevice management section 301. The communication control section 307controls communication between the server 300 and the home controller100 and communication between the server 300 and the device 200 as withthe communication control section 107. In addition, the communicationcontrol section 307 transmits a variety of data to the home controller100 or the device 200 upon receiving a request to transmit such datafrom other blocks, and receives data transmitted from the homecontroller 100 or the device 200 to deliver the data to the relevantblock.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the form ofimplementation of the home controller 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the homecontroller 100 includes an application 401, an OS (Operating System)402, a memory 403, and other hardware (not shown).

The application 401 is application software for causing the informationterminal to function as the home controller 100, and is executed by aprocessor of the home controller 100. The home controller 100 may readthe application 401 from a computer readable recording medium toimplement the application 401, or may download the application 401 froma network to implement the application 401. The OS 402 is basic softwareof the information terminal, and is executed by the processor of thehome controller 100. The memory 403 is formed from a storage device suchas a RAM and a ROM of the home controller 100, and stores a group ofdata included in the application 401. The processor of the homecontroller 100 executes the application 401 to embody the functions ofthe touch panel control section 102, the display control section 103,the storage section 104, the device management section 105, the devicecontrol section 106, and the communication control section 107 shown inFIG. 3. In addition, the processor of the home controller 100 executesthe application 401 to cause the memory 403 to function as the storagesection 104.

It should be noted, however, that in the embodiment, the home controller100 may be implemented by the application 401 alone, may be implementedby the application 401 and the OS 402, may be implemented by theapplication 401, the OS 402, and the memory 403, or may be implementedby the application 401, the OS 402, the memory 403, and other hardware(not shown). In any embodiment, the home controller 100 according to theembodiment can be embodied. In the embodiment, the processor and thestorage device forming the information terminal, for example, form acomputer. One of a CPU, an FPGA, and an ASIC or a combination of two ormore of these may be adopted as the processor. One of a ROM, a RAM, anda hard disk or a combination of two or more of these may be adopted asthe storage device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a basic screen 500. The basicscreen 500 is a basic screen that is displayed by an ordinary smartphoneor a tablet terminal. The basic screen 500 displays one or more iconsfor executing one or more applications in a matrix pattern. In addition,the one or more icons include a controller application icon 501 forstarting up a home control system. In the example shown in FIG. 5, thecontroller application icon 501 is arranged at a top left position.

(First Control Pattern)

First, a first control pattern will be described. The first controlpattern is a control pattern in which control is performed per device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen 600 that isdisplayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in the firstcontrol pattern. The top screen 600 (an example of the display screen)is a top screen of a home control system. The top screen 600 shown inFIG. 6 is a screen that is displayed on the display 101 of the homecontroller 100 when the controller application icon 501 is tapped on thebasic screen 500 in the first control pattern.

A heading that reads “controller” is displayed in an upper part of thetop screen 600 to indicate that the screen is a screen of the homecontrol system. Characters reading “list of devices” are displayed at aleft end below the heading to explicitly indicate that a list of devicesthat can be controlled by the home control system is displayed below.

Device selection buttons 601 are displayed in a single vertical rowbelow the characters reading “list of devices”. The device selectionbutton 601 is a button for selecting a device to be a control target.The device selection button 601 is provided for each device 200. Thedevice selection button 601 includes a device name 602, a location name603, and a simple control button 604.

The device name 602 represents a name of the device. The location name603 represents a name of an installation location of the devicerepresented by the device name 602. In the example shown in FIG. 6,“illumination 1”, “illumination 2”, “illumination 3”, and “illumination4” are displayed as device names 602. In addition, “living room”,“living room”, “dining room”, and “bedroom 1” are displayed as locationnames 603 to respectively correspond to the “illumination 1”, the“illumination 2”, the “illumination 3”, and the “illumination 4”.

The simple control button 604 displays a current on/off state of powerof a corresponding device. In the example shown in FIG. 6, “ON” isdisplayed for the simple control button 604 of the uppermost deviceselection button 601. Accordingly, it is shown that power of anillumination device named “illumination 1” which is installed in a roomwith a description reading “living room” is turned on. In addition,“OFF” is displayed for the simple control button 604 of a lowermostdevice selection button 601. Accordingly, it is shown that power of anillumination device named “illumination 4” which is installed in a roomwith a description reading “bedroom 1” is turned off.

As shown in FIG. 6, the simple control buttons 604 that are displayed as“ON” are displayed with brightness identical to brightness of otherregions (initial brightness). In addition, the simple control buttons604 that are displayed as “OFF” are displayed with brightness lower thanthe brightness of other regions. Accordingly, an on/off state of powerof a corresponding device can be identified immediately.

The simple control button 604 is also a button for switching betweenon/off states of power of a corresponding device. For example, when thesimple control button 604 of the uppermost device selection button 601is tapped by a contact object (for example, a finger of a user), thetouch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result, thedevice control section 106 generates a control command for turning offpower of the illumination device named “illumination 1” which isinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room”. Thecommunication control section 107 transmits the generated controlcommand to the “illumination 1” that is installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. Accordingly, the power of theillumination device named “illumination 1” is turned off. Moreover, whenthe power of the illumination device named “illumination 1” is turnedoff, the display control section 103 displays the simple control button604 of the uppermost device selection button 601 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

In addition, for example, when the simple control button 604 of thelowermost device selection button 601 is tapped by the contact object,the touch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result,the device control section 106 generates a control command for turningon power of the illumination device named “illumination 4” which isinstalled in the room with the description reading “bedroom 1”. Thecommunication control section 107 transmits the generated controlcommand to the “illumination 4” that is installed in the room with thedescription reading “bedroom 1”. Accordingly, the power of theillumination device named “illumination 4” is turned on. Moreover, whenthe power of the illumination device named “illumination 4” is turnedon, the display control section 103 displays the simple control button604 of the lowermost device selection button 601 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

A next page button 605 is displayed in a lower part of the top screen600. When the next page button 605 is tapped with the contact object,the touch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result,the display control section 103 displays a top screen 600 for a secondpage which displays a list of device selection buttons 601 that couldnot be displayed on the first page. Moreover, the next page button 605may be a scroll button that displays one device selection button 601 ata time which could not be displayed on the first page.

FIGS. 7 to 10 are, respectively, diagrams showing an example of acontrol screen that is displayed on the display 101 of the homecontroller 100. When a position which is inside a region of the deviceselection button 601 and which is outside a region of the simple controlbutton 604 is tapped by the contact object on the top screen 600 shownin FIG. 6, the touch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As aresult, the display control section 103 displays the control screensshown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

A control screen 700 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a device name 701,a location name 705, a room screen 703, a top screen switching button702, and a device switching button 704. A control screen 900 shown inFIGS. 9 and 10 includes the device name 701, the location name 705, theroom screen 703, the top screen switching button 702, and the deviceswitching button 704 in a similar manner to the control screen 700 shownin FIGS. 7 and 8.

The device name 701 corresponds to the device name 602 on the top screen600 shown in FIG. 6. The location name 705 corresponds to the locationname 603 on the top screen 600 shown in FIG. 6.

In the example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, “illumination 1” is indicated asthe device name 701 and “living room” is indicated as the location name705. In other words, the control screen 700 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8corresponds to the uppermost device selection button 601 shown in FIG.6.

In the example shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, “illumination 4” is indicated asthe device name 701 and “bedroom 1” is indicated as the location name705. In other words, the control screen 900 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10corresponds to the lowermost device selection button 601 shown in FIG.6.

The room screen 703 is a screen showing a layout of a room correspondingto the location name 705 as viewed down from a ceiling side. When theroom screen 703 is tapped by the user, on/off of power of acorresponding device is switched. In addition, the room screen 703displays a current on/off state of power of the corresponding device.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, the room screen 703 is displayed withbrightness identical to the brightness of other regions (initialbrightness). Accordingly, it is shown that power of an illuminationdevice named “illumination 1” which is installed in a room with thedescription reading “living room” is turned on. In addition, in theexample shown in FIG. 8, the room screen 703 is displayed withbrightness lower than the brightness of the other regions. Accordingly,it is shown that the power of the illumination device named“illumination 1” is turned off. In a similar manner, the example in FIG.9 shows that power of an illumination device named “illumination 4”which is installed in a room with the description reading “bedroom 1” isturned on and the example in FIG. 10 shows that power of theillumination device named “illumination 4” is turned off.

The top screen switching button 702 is a button for switching thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 to the topscreen 600 (FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 14 (to be described later), thedevice switching button 704 is a button for switching the deviceselection button 601 corresponding to a displayed control screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of the displayscreen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in the firstcontrol pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 11 represents the topscreen 600 shown in FIG. 6. An upper right diagram in FIG. 11 representsthe control screen 700 shown in FIG. 7. A lower right diagram in FIG. 11represents the control screen 700 shown in FIG. 8.

When the user taps a position which is inside a region of the uppermostdevice selection button 601 and which is outside a region of the simplecontrol button 604 with a contact object 1100 on the top screen 600shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 11, the touch panel controlsection 102 detects the tapping. As a result, the display controlsection 103 switches the display screen from the top screen 600 shown inthe upper left diagram in FIG. 11 to the control screen 700 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 11 (C1101).

As shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 11, the simple control button604 in the region tapped by the contact object 1100 is displayed as“ON”. Therefore, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 703 (an example of the first room screen of the first aspect ofthe present disclosure) on the control screen 700 shown in the upperright diagram in FIG. 11 with brightness equal to the initialbrightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 703 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 700 that is shown in the upperright diagram in FIG. 11, the touch panel control section 102 detectsthe tapping. As a result, the device control section 106 generates acontrol command (an example of the first control command of the firstaspect of the present disclosure) for turning off power of anillumination device named “illumination 1” (an example of the firstillumination device). The communication control section 107 transmitsthe generated control command to the illumination device named“illumination 1”. Accordingly, the power of the illumination devicenamed “illumination 1” is turned off.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 700 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 11to the control screen 700 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 11(C1102). As shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 11, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 703 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 703 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 700 that is shown in the lowerright diagram in FIG. 11, the touch panel control section 102 detectsthe tapping. As a result, the device control section 106 generates acontrol command (an example of the second control command of the firstaspect of the present disclosure) for turning on power of theillumination device named “illumination 1” (an example of the firstillumination device). The communication control section 107 transmitsthe generated control command to the illumination device named“illumination 1”. Accordingly, the power of the illumination devicenamed “illumination 1” is turned on.

Furthermore, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 700 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 11to the control screen 700 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 11(C1103). As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 11, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 703 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in thefirst control pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 12 represents thetop screen 600 shown in FIG. 6. An upper right diagram in FIG. 12represents the control screen 900 shown in FIG. 10. A lower rightdiagram in FIG. 12 represents the control screen 900 shown in FIG. 9.

When the user taps a position which is inside a region of the lowermostdevice selection button 601 and which is outside a region of the simplecontrol button 604 with the contact object 1100 on the top screen 600shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 12, the touch panel controlsection 102 detects the tapping. As a result, the display controlsection 103 switches the display screen from the top screen 600 shown inthe upper left diagram in FIG. 12 to the control screen 900 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 12 (C1201).

As shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 12, the simple control button604 in the region tapped by the contact object 1100 is displayed as“OFF”. Therefore, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 703 (an example of the second room screen of the first aspect ofthe present disclosure) on the control screen 900 shown in the upperright diagram in FIG. 12 with brightness lower than the initialbrightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 703 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 900 that is shown in the upperright diagram in FIG. 12, the touch panel control section 102 detectsthe tapping. As a result, the device control section 106 generates acontrol command (an example of the fourth control command of the firstaspect of the present disclosure) for turning on power of theillumination device named “illumination 4” (an example of the secondillumination device). The communication control section 107 transmitsthe generated control command to the illumination device named“illumination 4”. Accordingly, the power of the illumination devicenamed “illumination 4” is turned on.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 900 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 12to the control screen 900 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 12(C1202). As shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 12, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 703 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 703 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 900 that is shown in the lowerright diagram in FIG. 12, the touch panel control section 102 detectsthe tapping. As a result, the device control section 106 generates acontrol command (an example of the third control command of the firstaspect of the present disclosure) for turning off power of theillumination device named “illumination 4” (an example of the secondillumination device). The communication control section 107 transmitsthe generated control command to the illumination device named“illumination 4”. Accordingly, the power of the illumination devicenamed “illumination 4” is turned off.

Furthermore, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 900 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 12to the control screen 900 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 12(C1203). As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 12, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 703 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another example of a control screendisplayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100. A controlscreen 1300 shown in FIG. 13 includes the device name 701, the locationname 705, the room screen 703, the top screen switching button 702, andthe device switching button 704 in a similar manner to the controlscreens shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. In the example shown in FIG. 13,“illumination 3” is indicated as the device name 701 and “dining room”is indicated as the location name 705. In other words, the controlscreen 1300 shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to the third-from-top deviceselection button 601 shown in FIG. 6.

“OFF” is displayed for the simple control button 604 of thethird-from-top device selection button 601 shown in FIG. 6. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 13, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 703 on the control screen 700 with brightness lower than theinitial brightness.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a transition due to thedevice switching button 704 of the display screen on the display 101 ofthe home controller 100. An upper left diagram in FIG. 14 represents thecontrol screen 700 shown in FIG. 7. A lower right diagram in FIG. 14represents the control screen 1300 shown in FIG. 13.

The control screen 700 (FIG. 7) shown in the upper left diagram in FIG.14 corresponds to the uppermost device selection button 601 shown inFIG. 6. The control screen 1300 (FIG. 13) shown in the lower rightdiagram in FIG. 14 corresponds to the third-from-top device selectionbutton 601 shown in FIG. 6 as described above.

A control screen 1400 shown in an upper right diagram in FIG. 14 and alower left diagram in FIG. 14 includes the device name 701, the locationname 705, the room screen 703, the top screen switching button 702, andthe device switching button 704 in a similar manner to the controlscreens shown in FIGS. 7 to 10. On the control screen 1400 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 14 and the lower left diagram in FIG. 14,“illumination 2” is indicated as the device name 701 and “living room”is indicated as the location name 705. In other words, the controlscreen 1400 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 14 and the lowerleft diagram in FIG. 14 corresponds to the second-from-top deviceselection button 601 shown in FIG. 6.

“ON” is displayed for the simple control button 604 of thesecond-from-top device selection button 601 shown in FIG. 6. Therefore,as shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 14 and the lower leftdiagram in FIG. 14, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 703 on the control screen 1400 with brightness equal to theinitial brightness.

When the user taps the right-side device switching button 704 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 700 that is shown in the upperleft diagram in FIG. 14, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 switches thedisplay screen from the control screen 700 shown in the upper leftdiagram in FIG. 14 to the control screen 1400 shown in the upper rightdiagram in FIG. 14 (C1401). In other words, the display screen makes atransition from the control screen 700 corresponding to the uppermostdevice selection button 601 shown in FIG. 6 to the control screen 1400corresponding to the second-from-top device selection button 601 shownin FIG. 6.

When the user taps the right-side device switching button 704 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1400 that is shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 14, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the display control section 103switches the display screen from the control screen 1400 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 14 to the control screen 1300 shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 14 (C1402). In other words, the displayscreen makes a transition from the control screen 1400 corresponding tothe second-from-top device selection button 601 shown in FIG. 6 to thecontrol screen 1300 corresponding to the third-from-top device selectionbutton 601 shown in FIG. 6.

When the user taps a left-side device switching button 704 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1300 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 14, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the display control section 103switches the display screen from the control screen 1300 shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 14 to the control screen 1400 shown in thelower left diagram in FIG. 14 (C1403). In other words, the displayscreen makes a transition from the control screen 1300 corresponding tothe third-from-top device selection button 601 shown in FIG. 6 to thecontrol screen 1400 corresponding to the second-from-top deviceselection button 601 shown in FIG. 6.

As shown, when the device switching button 704 is tapped, controlscreens corresponding to the device selection buttons 601 are displayedin an order of the device selection buttons 601 arranged in a singlevertical row on the top screen 600 shown in FIG. 6. When the right-sidedevice switching button 704 is tapped, the device selection button 601(FIG. 6) to be displayed moves downward, and when the left-side deviceswitching button 704 is tapped, the device selection button 601 (FIG. 6)to be displayed moves upward.

As described above, in the first control pattern, when the user taps thedevice selection button 601 provided for each device 200 with thecontact object 1100, the room screen 703 in which a corresponding deviceis installed is displayed on the display 101. The room screen 703 isdisplayed with brightness equal to the initial brightness if power ofthe corresponding device is in an on-state and is displayed withbrightness lower than the initial brightness when power of thecorresponding device is in an off-state. Accordingly, an on/off state ofpower of the corresponding device can be identified immediately.

In addition, when the room screen 703 is tapped, on/off of power of thecorresponding device is switched. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately provide an operation button for turning power on/off on thecontrol screen 700. As a result, display materials to be displayed onthe control screen 700 with a limited display area can be minimized.

Moreover, the brightness of the room screen 703 which displays an on/offstate of power of a corresponding device is not limited to thosedescribed above. When power of a corresponding device is in an on-state,the brightness of the room screen 703 may be set to brightness that ishigher than the brightness of other regions (initial brightness), andwhen the power of a corresponding device is in an off-state, thebrightness of the room screen 703 may be set to brightness equal to thebrightness of other regions (initial brightness) or to brightness lowerthan the brightness of other regions (initial brightness). Even in thiscase, an on/off state of power of a corresponding device can beidentified immediately.

(Second Control Pattern)

Next, a second control pattern will be described. The second controlpattern is a control pattern in which devices are controlled per room.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a top screen 1500 that isdisplayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in the secondcontrol pattern. The top screen 1500 (an example of the display screen)is a top screen of the home control system. The top screen 1500 shown inFIG. 15 is a screen that is displayed on the display 101 of the homecontroller 100 when the controller application icon 501 is tapped on thebasic screen 500 in the second control pattern.

A heading that reads “controller” is displayed in an upper part of thetop screen 1500 to indicate that the screen is a screen of the homecontrol system. Characters reading “list of rooms” are displayed at aleft end below the heading to explicitly indicate that a list of devicesthat can be controlled by the home control system is displayed below inroom units.

Room selection buttons 1501 are displayed in a single vertical row belowthe characters reading “list of rooms”. The room selection button 1501is a button for selecting a device to be a control target in room units.The room selection button 1501 includes a room name 1502, a device name1503, and the simple control button 604. The next page button 605 isdisplayed in a lower part of the top screen 1500. The simple controlbutton 604 and the next page button 605 are the same as the simplecontrol button 604 and the next page button 605 on the top screen 600shown in FIG. 6.

The room name 1502 represents a name of a room. The device name 1503represents a name of a device that is installed in the room representedby the room name 1502. In the example shown in FIG. 15, “living room”,“dining room”, “bedroom 1”, and “bedroom 2” are displayed as room names1502. In addition, “illumination, “illumination”, “illumination”, and“illumination” are displayed as device names 1503 to respectivelycorrespond to the “living room”, the “dining room”, the “bedroom 1”, andthe “bedroom 2”.

When the room selection buttons 1501 are advanced to a next page orscrolled using the next page button 605, for example, another roomselection button 1501 with “living room” as the room name 1502 and “airconditioner” as the device name 1503 is displayed on the top screen1500.

FIGS. 16 to 19 are, respectively, diagrams showing an example of acontrol screen that is displayed on the display 101 of the homecontroller 100. When a position which is inside a region of the roomselection button 1501 and which is outside a region of the simplecontrol button 604 is tapped by a contact object on the top screen 1500shown in FIG. 15, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 displays thecontrol screens shown in FIGS. 16 to 19.

A control screen 1600 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 includes a room name1601, a room screen 1603, a top screen switching button 1602, and a roomswitching button 1604. A control screen 1800 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19includes the room name 1601, the room screen 1603, the top screenswitching button 1602, and the room switching button 1604 in a similarmanner to the control screen 1600 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

For example, when the user taps the uppermost room selection button 1501on the top screen 1500 shown in FIG. 15, since the room name 1502 andthe device name 1503 are associated with each other on the top screen1500, the user is aware that a device that is an operation target is anillumination device. Therefore, the control screens shown in FIGS. 16 to19 do not include device names. Alternatively, device names may bedisplayed on the control screens shown in FIGS. 16 to 19 by the displaycontrol section 103.

The room name 1601 corresponds to the room name 1502 on the top screen1500 shown in FIG. 15. In the example shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, “livingroom” is displayed as the room name 1601. When the uppermost roomselection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 is selected, the control screen1600 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 is displayed. In the example shown inFIGS. 18 and 19, “bedroom 1” is displayed as the room name 1601. Whenthe third-from-top room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 isselected, the control screen 1800 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 is displayed.

The room screen 1603 is a screen showing a layout of a roomcorresponding to the room name 1601 as viewed down from a ceiling side.When the room screen 1603 is tapped by the user, on/off of power ofdevices installed in the room is switched in room units. For example, ina case where two or more illumination devices are installed in the roomand power of at least one illumination device is in an on-state, wheninside a region of the room screen 1603 is tapped by the user, power ofthe illumination device in an on-state is turned off. For example, in acase where two or more illumination devices are installed in the roomand power of all of the illumination devices is in an on-state or anoff-state, when inside a region of the room screen 1603 is tapped by theuser, on/off of power of all illumination devices is switched.

In addition, the room screen 1603 displays a current on/off state ofpower of devices installed in a room in room units. For example, in acase where two or more devices are installed in the room, the roomscreen 1603 displays power to be in an on-state if power of even onedevice installed in the room is in an on-state, and displays power to bein an off-state if power of all of the devices installed in the room isin an off-state.

In the example shown in FIG. 16, the room screen 1603 is displayed withbrightness identical to the brightness of other regions (initialbrightness). Accordingly, it is shown that power of at least oneillumination device among illumination devices installed in a room withthe description reading “living room” is turned on. In addition, in theexample shown in FIG. 17, the room screen 1603 is displayed withbrightness lower than the brightness of the other regions. Accordingly,it is shown that power of all of the illumination devices installed inthe room with the description reading “living room” is turned off.

In a similar manner, the example in FIG. 18 shows that power of at leastone illumination device among illumination devices installed in a roomwith the description reading “bedroom 1” is turned on. The example inFIG. 19 shows that power of all of the illumination devices installed inthe room with the description reading “bedroom 1” is turned off.

The top screen switching button 1602 is a button for switching thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 to the topscreen 1500 (FIG. 15). As shown in FIG. 23 (to be described later), theroom switching button 1604 is a button for switching the room selectionbutton 1501 corresponding to a displayed control screen.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of the displayscreen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in the secondcontrol pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 20 represents the topscreen 1500 shown in FIG. 15. An upper right diagram in FIG. 20represents the control screen 1600 shown in FIG. 16. A lower rightdiagram in FIG. 20 represents the control screen 1600 shown in FIG. 17.

When the user taps a position which is inside a region of the uppermostroom selection button 1501 and which is outside a region of the simplecontrol button 604 with the contact object 1100 on the top screen 1500shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 20, the touch panel controlsection 102 detects the tapping. As a result, the display controlsection 103 switches the display screen from the top screen 1500 shownin the upper left diagram in FIG. 20 to the control screen 1600 shown inthe upper right diagram in FIG. 20 (C2001).

As shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 20, the simple control button604 in the region tapped by the contact object 1100 is displayed as“ON”. In other words, power of at least one illumination device amongillumination devices installed in a room with the description reading“living room” is turned on. Therefore, the display control section 103displays the room screen 1603 (an example of the first room screen ofthe second aspect of the present disclosure) on the control screen 1600shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 20 with brightness equal to theinitial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 1603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1600 that is shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 20, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the first control command ofthe second aspect of the present disclosure) for turning off power ofall of the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“living room”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room” isturned off.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 1600 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 20to the control screen 1600 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 20(C2002). As shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 20, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 1603 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 1603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1600 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 20, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the second control command ofthe second aspect of the present disclosure) for turning on power of allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“living room”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room” isturned on.

Furthermore, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 1600 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 20to the control screen 1600 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 20(C2003). As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 20, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 1603 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in thesecond control pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 21 represents thetop screen 1500 shown in FIG. 15. An upper right diagram in FIG. 21represents the control screen 1800 shown in FIG. 19. A lower rightdiagram in FIG. 21 represents the control screen 1800 shown in FIG. 18.

When the user taps a position which is inside a region of thethird-from-top room selection button 1501 and which is outside a regionof the simple control button 604 with the contact object 1100 on the topscreen 1500 shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 21, the touch panelcontrol section 102 detects the tapping. As a result, the displaycontrol section 103 switches the display screen from the top screen 1500shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 21 to the control screen 1800shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 21 (C2101).

As shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 21, the simple control button604 of the third-from-top room selection button 1501 tapped by thecontact object 1100 is displayed as “OFF”. Therefore, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 1603 (an example of thesecond room screen of the second aspect of the present disclosure) onthe control screen 1800 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 21 withbrightness lower than the initial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 1603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1800 that is shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 21, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the fourth control command ofthe second aspect of the present disclosure) for turning on power of allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “bedroom 1”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“bedroom 1”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “bedroom 1” is turnedon.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 1800 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 21to the control screen 1800 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 21(C2102). As shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 21, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 1603 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 1603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1800 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 21, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the third control command ofthe second aspect of the present disclosure) for turning off power ofall of the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “bedroom 1”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“bedroom 1”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “bedroom 1” is turnedoff.

Furthermore, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 1800 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 21to the control screen 1800 shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 21(C2103). As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 21, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 1603 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of a control screendisplayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100. A controlscreen 2200 shown in FIG. 22 includes the room name 1601, the roomscreen 1603, the top screen switching button 1602, and the roomswitching button 1604 in a similar manner to the control screens shownin FIGS. 16 to 19.

In the example shown in FIG. 22, “dining room” is indicated as the roomname 1601. When the second-from-top room selection button 1501 with“dining room” as the room name 1502 shown in FIG. 15 is selected, thecontrol screen 2200 shown in FIG. 22 is displayed.

“OFF” is displayed for the simple control button 604 of thesecond-from-top room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 22, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 1603 on the control screen 2200 with brightness lower than theinitial brightness.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a transition due to the roomswitching button 1604 of the display screen on the display 101 of thehome controller 100. An upper left diagram in FIG. 23 represents thecontrol screen 1600 shown in FIG. 16. An upper right diagram and a lowerleft diagram in FIG. 23 represent the control screen 2200 shown in FIG.22. A lower right diagram in FIG. 23 represents the control screen 1800shown in FIG. 19.

The control screen 1600 (FIG. 16) shown in the upper left diagram inFIG. 23 is displayed when the uppermost room selection button 1501 shownin FIG. 15 is selected. The control screen 2200 (FIG. 22) shown in theupper right diagram and the lower left diagram in FIG. 23 is displayedwhen the second-from-top room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 isselected. The control screen 1800 (FIG. 19) shown in the lower rightdiagram in FIG. 23 is displayed when the third-from-top room selectionbutton 1501 shown in FIG. 15 is selected.

When the user taps the right-side room switching button 1604 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1600 that is shown in theupper left diagram in FIG. 23, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the display control section 103switches the display screen from the control screen 1600 shown in theupper left diagram in FIG. 23 to the control screen 2200 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 23 (C2301). In other words, the displayscreen makes a transition from the control screen 1600 corresponding tothe uppermost room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 to the controlscreen 2200 corresponding to the second-from-top room selection button1501 shown in FIG. 15.

When the user taps the right-side room switching button 1604 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 2200 that is shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 23, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the display control section 103switches the display screen from the control screen 2200 shown in theupper right diagram in FIG. 23 to the control screen 1800 shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 23 (C2302). In other words, the displayscreen makes a transition from the control screen 2200 corresponding tothe second-from-top room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 to thecontrol screen 1800 corresponding to the third-from-top room selectionbutton 1501 shown in FIG. 15.

When the user taps a left-side room switching button 1604 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 1800 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 23, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the display control section 103switches the display screen from the control screen 1800 shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 23 to the control screen 2200 shown in thelower left diagram in FIG. 23 (C2303). In other words, the displayscreen makes a transition from the control screen 1800 corresponding tothe third-from-top room selection button 1501 shown in FIG. 15 to thecontrol screen 2200 corresponding to the second-from-top room selectionbutton 1501 shown in FIG. 15.

As shown, when the room switching button 1604 is tapped, control screenscorresponding to the room selection buttons 1501 are displayed in anorder of the room selection buttons 1501 arranged in a single verticalrow on the top screen 1500 shown in FIG. 15. When the right-side roomswitching button 1604 is tapped, the room selection button 1501 (FIG.15) to be displayed moves downward, and when the left-side roomswitching button 1604 is tapped, the room selection button 1501 (FIG.15) to be displayed moves upward.

As described above, in the second control pattern, when the user tapsthe room selection button 1501 with the contact object 1100, the roomscreen 1603 representing a corresponding room is displayed on thedisplay 101. When two or more devices are installed in the room, theroom screen 1603 is displayed with brightness equal to the initialbrightness if power of at least one device is in an on-state and isdisplayed with brightness lower than the initial brightness if power ofall devices is in an off-state. As a result, according to the secondcontrol pattern, an on/off state of power of a device installed in aroom can be identified immediately.

In addition, when the room screen 1603 is tapped, on/off of power of adevice installed in a room is switched. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately provide an operation button for turning power on/off on thecontrol screen 1600. As a result, display materials to be displayed onthe control screen 1600 with a limited display area can be minimized.

(Third Control Pattern)

Next, a third control pattern will be described. The third controlpattern is a control pattern in which a device type is specified anddevices of the specified type are controlled in room units.

FIGS. 24 and 25 are diagrams showing an example of a top screen 2400that is displayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in thethird control pattern. The top screen 2400 (an example of the displayscreen) is a top screen of the home control system. The top screen 2400shown in FIG. 24 is a screen that is displayed on the display 101 of thehome controller 100 when the controller application icon 501 is tappedon the basic screen 500 in the third control pattern.

A heading that reads “controller” is displayed in an upper part of thetop screen 2400 to indicate that the screen is a screen of the homecontrol system. A device selection region 2410 and a floor plan 2420 aredisplayed below the heading.

The device selection region 2410 includes a device type icon 2411 (anexample of the instruction button) and a device type switching button2412.

The device type icon 2411 is an icon representing a type of the device200. The device type icon 2411 is prepared for each type of the device200. The device type icon 2411 includes a description of a name or anabbreviation of a device.

In the present embodiment, the display control section 103 arranges thedevice type icons 2411 in the device selection region 2410 in, forexample, a single horizontal row. In the example shown in FIG. 24, thedisplay control section 103 displays, from left to right, a device typeicon 2411 representing an illumination device, a device type icon 2411representing an air conditioner, and a device type icon 2411representing an electric shutter apparatus.

The device type switching button 2412 is for switching displays of thedevice type icons 2411. When the device type switching button 2412 istapped, the displayed device type icon 2411 is scrolled one at a timefor each tap and another device type icon 2411 is displayed.Alternatively, when the device type switching button 2412 is tapped, allof the device type icons 2411 being displayed may be switched to otherdevice type icons 2411 by page feeding.

The floor plan 2420 is a diagram schematically showing an arrangement ofone or more rooms that constitute each floor of a house. The floor plan2420 includes a room icon 2421 representing a room. The room icon 2421schematically represents a room and is expressed as a square block. Onthe floor plan 2420, each room icon 2421 representing each room thatconstitutes each floor is arranged in a matrix pattern.

As shown in FIG. 24, the room icons 2421 are represented by blocks of asame size. In addition, floor numbers are displayed in a verticaldirection, and room icons 2421 representing rooms constituting a samefloor are arranged in a single horizontal row.

In the example shown in FIG. 24, a house is constituted by two floors,namely, a first floor and a second floor. Therefore, the room icons 2421representing rooms constituting the second floor are arranged in a firstrow and the room icons 2421 representing rooms constituting the firstfloor are arranged in a second row. In addition, a floor number such as1F and 2F is shown at a left end of each row.

The room icon 2421 includes a description of a room name. In the exampleshown in FIG. 24, room icons 2421 including the descriptions “bedroom1”, “bedroom 2”, “bedroom 3”, and “toilet” are displayed with respect tothe second floor. In addition, room icons 2421 including thedescriptions “living room”, “dining room”, “bathroom”, and “entrance”are displayed with respect to the first floor.

In this manner, in the present embodiment, the room icons 2421 arerepresented by blocks of the same size. Therefore, the floor plan 2420can also be commonly applied to buildings with different floor plans. Inaddition, the user may move to a building with a different floor plan.Even in this case, by adjusting a correspondence relationship betweendevices 200 to be used and rooms in which the devices 200 are to beinstalled, the room icon 2421 shown in FIG. 24 may be continuously usedwithout modification.

For example, when the device type icon 2411 representing an illuminationdevice is tapped by the user on the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 24,the touch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result,the display control section 103 changes a display color of the devicetype icon 2411 representing an illumination device as shown in FIG. 25.

In addition, the display control section 103 controls brightness of theroom icon 2421 in accordance with an on/off state of power of a devicewhich is installed in the room and which is represented by the tappeddevice type icon 2411.

In the example shown in FIG. 25, the display control section 103displays the room icons 2421 with the descriptions “bedroom 3”, “livingroom”, and “entrance” with brightness equal to initial brightness. Thismeans that, among illumination devices installed in each of the “bedroom3”, “living room”, and “entrance”, power of at least one illuminationdevice is in an on-state.

In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 25, the display controlsection 103 displays the room icons 2421 with the descriptions “bedroom1”, “bedroom 2”, “toilet”, “dining room”, and “bathroom” with brightnesslower than the initial brightness. This means that power of allillumination devices installed in each of the “bedroom 1”, “bedroom 2”,“toilet”, “dining room”, and “bathroom” is in an off-state. Moreover,the display control section 103 displays the room icon 2421 representinga room in which a device represented by the tapped device type icon 2411is not installed with the same brightness as the off-state, thebrightness being lower than the initial brightness.

FIGS. 26 to 29 are, respectively, diagrams showing an example of acontrol screen that is displayed on the display 101 of the homecontroller 100. When the user taps inside a region of the room icon 2421with a contact object on the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 25, the touchpanel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the control screens shown in, for example,FIGS. 26 to 29.

A control screen 2600 shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 includes a room name2601, a room screen 2603, a top screen switching button 2602, a roomswitching button 2604, and a floor switching button 2605. A controlscreen 2800 shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 includes the room name 2601, theroom screen 2603, the top screen switching button 2602, the roomswitching button 2604, and the floor switching button 2605 in a similarmanner to the control screen 2600 shown in FIGS. 26 and 27.

The room name 2601 corresponds to the name described in the room icon2421 on the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 25. In the example shown inFIGS. 26 and 27, “living room” is described in the room name 2601. Thecontrol screen 2600 shown in FIGS. 26 and 27 is displayed when the usertaps inside a region of the room icon 2421 which is at a left end of thefirst floor in FIG. 25 and which includes a description reading “livingroom”.

In the example shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, “bedroom 1” is described in theroom name 2601. The control screen 2800 shown in FIGS. 28 and 29 isdisplayed when the user taps inside a region of the room icon 2421 whichis at a left end of the second floor in FIG. 25 and which includes adescription reading “bedroom 1”.

The room screen 2603 is a screen showing a layout of a roomcorresponding to the room name 2601 as viewed down from a ceiling side.When the room screen 2603 is tapped by the user, on/off of power ofdevices installed in the room is switched in room units. For example, ina case where two or more illumination devices are installed in the roomand power of at least one illumination device is in an on-state, wheninside a region of the room screen 2603 is tapped by the user, power ofthe illumination device in an on-state is turned off. For example, in acase where two or more illumination devices are installed in the roomand power of all of the illumination devices is in an on-state or anoff-state, when inside a region of the room screen 2603 is tapped by theuser, on/off of power of all illumination devices is switched.

In addition, the room screen 2603 displays a current on/off state ofpower of devices installed in a room in room units. For example, in acase where two or more devices are installed in the room, the roomscreen 2603 displays power to be in an on-state if power of even onedevice installed in the room is in an on-state and displays power to bein an off-state if power of all of the devices installed in the room isin an off-state.

In the example shown in FIG. 26, the room screen 2603 is displayed withbrightness identical to the brightness of other regions (initialbrightness). Therefore, power of at least one illumination device amongillumination devices installed in a room with the description reading“living room” is in an on-state. In the example shown in FIG. 27, theroom screen 2603 is displayed with brightness lower than the brightnessof the other regions. Therefore, power of all of the illuminationdevices installed in the room with the description reading “living room”is in an off-state.

In a similar manner, in the example shown in FIG. 28, the room screen2603 is displayed with brightness identical to the brightness of otherregions (initial brightness). Therefore, power of at least oneillumination device among illumination devices installed in a room withthe description reading “bedroom 1” is in an on-state. In the exampleshown in FIG. 29, the room screen 2603 is displayed with brightnesslower than the brightness of the other regions. Therefore, power of allof the illumination devices installed in the room with the descriptionreading “bedroom 1” is in an off-state.

The top screen switching button 2602 is a button for switching thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 to the topscreen 2400 (FIG. 25). As shown in FIG. 33A (to be described later), theroom switching button 2604 is a button for switching rooms correspondingto a displayed control screen within a same floor. As shown in FIG. 33B(to be described later), the floor switching button 2605 is a button forswitching floors of rooms corresponding to a displayed control screen.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing an example of a transition of the displayscreen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in the thirdcontrol pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 30 represents the topscreen 2400 shown in FIG. 24. An upper right diagram in FIG. 30represents the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 25. A lower right diagramin FIG. 30 represents the control screen 2600 shown in FIG. 26. A lowerleft diagram in FIG. 30 represents the control screen 2600 shown in FIG.27.

When the user taps inside a region of the device type icon 2411representing an illumination device with the contact object 1100 on thetop screen 2400 that is shown in the upper left diagram in FIG. 30, thetouch panel control section 102 detects the tapping. As a result, asshown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 30, the display control section103 changes a display color of the device type icon 2411 representing anillumination device and changes brightness of each room icon 2421 on thefloor plan 2420 in accordance with an on/off state of power of anillumination device installed in each room (C3001).

When the user taps inside a region of the room icon 2421 with thedescription reading “living room” with the contact object 1100 on thefloor plan 2420 on the top screen 2400 that is shown in the upper rightdiagram in FIG. 30, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 switches thedisplay screen from the top screen 2400 shown in the upper right diagramin FIG. 30 to the control screen 2600 shown in the lower right diagramin FIG. 30 (C3002).

As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 30, the room icon 2421 (anexample of the first room of the third aspect of the present disclosure)with the description reading “living room” is displayed with brightnessequal to the initial brightness (an example of the first brightness).Therefore, as shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 30, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 2603 (an example of thefirst room screen of the third aspect of the present disclosure) withbrightness equal to the initial brightness (an example of the secondbrightness).

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 2603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 2600 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 30, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the first control command ofthe third aspect of the present disclosure) for turning off power of allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“living room”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room” isturned off.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 2600 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 30to the control screen 2600 shown in the lower left diagram in FIG. 30(C3003). As shown in the lower left diagram in FIG. 30, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 2603 with brightness lowerthan the initial brightness.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another example of a transition of thedisplay screen on the display 101 of the home controller 100 in thethird control pattern. An upper left diagram in FIG. 31 represents thetop screen 2400 shown in FIG. 24. An upper right diagram in FIG. 31represents the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 25. A lower right diagramin FIG. 31 represents the control screen 2800 shown in FIG. 29. A lowerleft diagram in FIG. 31 represents the control screen 2800 shown in FIG.28.

A screen transition (C3101) from the top screen 2400 shown in the upperleft diagram in FIG. 31 to the top screen 2400 shown in the upper rightdiagram in FIG. 31 is the same as the screen transition (C3001) shown inFIG. 30.

When the user taps inside a region of the room icon 2421 with thedescription reading “bedroom 1” with the contact object 1100 on thefloor plan 2420 on the top screen 2400 that is shown in the upper rightdiagram in FIG. 31, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 switches thedisplay screen from the top screen 2400 shown in the upper right diagramin FIG. 31 to the control screen 2800 shown in the lower right diagramin FIG. 31 (C3102).

As shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 31, the room icon 2421 (anexample of the second room of the third aspect of the presentdisclosure) with the description reading “bedroom 1” is displayed withbrightness lower than the initial brightness (an example of the firstbrightness). Therefore, as shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 31,the display control section 103 displays the room screen 2603 (anexample of the second room screen of the third aspect of the presentdisclosure) with brightness lower than the initial brightness (anexample of the second brightness).

When the user taps inside a region of the room screen 2603 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 2800 that is shown in thelower right diagram in FIG. 31, the touch panel control section 102detects the tapping. As a result, the device control section 106generates a control command (an example of the second control command ofthe third aspect of the present disclosure) for turning on power of allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. The communication control section 107transmits the generated control command to all of the illuminationdevices that are installed in the room with the description reading“living room”. Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devicesinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room” isturned on.

In addition, the display control section 103 switches the display screenfrom the control screen 2800 shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 31to the control screen 2800 shown in the lower left diagram in FIG. 31(C3103). As shown in the lower left diagram in FIG. 31, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 2603 with brightness equalto the initial brightness.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing another example of a control screendisplayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100. A controlscreen 3200 shown in FIG. 32 includes the room name 2601, the roomscreen 2603, the top screen switching button 2602, the room switchingbutton 2604, and the floor switching button 2605 in a similar manner tothe control screen shown in FIGS. 26 to 29. In the example shown in FIG.32, “dining room” is described as the room name 2601. The control screen3200 shown in FIG. 32 is displayed when the user taps the room icon 2421which is second-from-left of the first floor shown in FIG. 25 and whichincludes a description reading “dining room”.

The room icon 2421 which is second-from-left of the first floor shown inFIG. 25 and which includes a description reading “dining room” isdisplayed with brightness lower than the initial brightness. Therefore,as shown in FIG. 32, the display control section 103 displays the roomscreen 2603 on the control screen 3200 with brightness lower than theinitial brightness.

FIG. 33A is a diagram showing an example of a transition due to the roomswitching button 2604 of the display screen on the display 101 of thehome controller 100. A top diagram in FIG. 33A represents the controlscreen 2600 shown in FIG. 26. A bottom diagram in FIG. 33A representsthe control screen 3200 shown in FIG. 32.

As described above, the control screen 2600 (FIG. 26) shown in the topdiagram in FIG. 33A is displayed when the user taps the room icon 2421which is at a left end of the first floor in FIG. 25 and which includesa description reading “living room”. As described above, the controlscreen 3200 (FIG. 32) shown in the bottom diagram in FIG. 33A isdisplayed when the user taps the room icon 2421 which issecond-from-left of the first floor in FIG. 25 and which includes adescription reading “dining room”.

When the user taps the right-side room switching button 2604 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 2600 that is shown in the topdiagram in FIG. 33A, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 switches thedisplay screen from the control screen 2600 shown in the top diagram inFIG. 33A to the control screen 3200 shown in the bottom diagram in FIG.33A (C3301). In other words, the display screen makes a transition fromthe control screen 2600 corresponding to the room icon 2421 which is atthe left end of the first floor in FIG. 25 and which includes adescription reading “living room” to the control screen 3200corresponding to the room icon 2421 which is second-from-left of thefirst floor in FIG. 25 and which includes a description reading “diningroom”. As shown, when the right-side room switching button 2604 istapped, the room icon 2421 corresponding to the displayed control screenmoves rightward by one.

FIG. 33B is a diagram showing an example of a transition due to thefloor switching button 2605 of the display screen on the display 101 ofthe home controller 100. A top diagram in FIG. 33B represents thecontrol screen 2600 shown in FIG. 26. A bottom diagram in FIG. 33Brepresents the control screen 2800 shown in FIG. 29.

As described above, the control screen 2600 (FIG. 26) shown in the topdiagram in FIG. 33B is displayed when the user taps the room icon 2421which is at a left end of the first floor in FIG. 25 and which includesa description reading “living room”. As described above, the controlscreen 2800 (FIG. 29) shown in the bottom diagram in FIG. 33B isdisplayed when the user taps the room icon 2421 which is at a left endof the second floor in FIG. 25 and which includes a description reading“bedroom 1”.

When the user taps the upper floor switching button 2605 with thecontact object 1100 on the control screen 2600 that is shown in the topdiagram in FIG. 33B, the touch panel control section 102 detects thetapping. As a result, the display control section 103 switches thedisplay screen from the control screen 2600 shown in the top diagram inFIG. 33B to the control screen 2800 shown in the bottom diagram in FIG.33B (C3302). In other words, the display screen makes a transition fromthe control screen 2600 corresponding to the room icon 2421 which is atthe left end of the first floor in FIG. 25 and which includes adescription reading “living room” to the control screen 2800corresponding to the room icon 2421 which is at the left end of thesecond floor in FIG. 25 and which includes a description reading“bedroom 1”. As shown, when the upper room switching button 2604 istapped, the room icon 2421 corresponding to the displayed control screenmoves upward by one.

As described above, in the third control pattern, when the user taps thedevice type icon 2411 with the contact object 1100, the room icon 2421is displayed on the display 101 with brightness in accordance with anon/off state of power of a device of the selected type. As a result,according to the third control pattern, an on/off state of power of adevice installed in a room can be identified immediately.

In addition, when the room screen 2603 is tapped, on/off of power of adevice installed in a room is switched. Accordingly, there is no need toseparately provide an operation button for turning power on/off on thecontrol screen 2600. As a result, display materials to be displayed onthe control screen 2600 with a limited display area can be minimized.

(Dimming of Illumination Device)

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto an example of light quantity decrease control of an illuminationdevice. An upper left diagram in FIG. 34 represents the control screen2600 shown in FIG. 26.

The room screen 2603 on the control screen 2600 shown in the upper leftdiagram in FIG. 34 is displayed with brightness identical to brightness(initial brightness) of regions other than the room screen 2603. Inother words, power of at least one illumination device amongillumination devices installed in a room with the description reading“living room” is turned on.

In FIG. 34, brightness of the room screens 2603 is set to be highest forthe room screen 2603 in the upper left diagram, lower in order of theupper right diagram and the lower right diagram, and lowest for the roomscreen 2603 in the lower left diagram.

The touch panel control section 102 detects that the user has touchedinside a region of the room screen 2603 in the upper left diagram inFIG. 34 by the contact object 1100 and, at the same time, the touchpanel control section 102 detects that the contact continues on the roomscreen 2603 and that a contact position moves downward. In addition, thetouch panel control section 102 detects an amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603. As a result, the display control section 103 reduces thebrightness of the room screen 2603 as the amount of movement increases(upper right diagram in FIG. 34, C3401).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that reducesa light quantity of an illumination device as the amount of movementincreases. The communication control section 107 transmits the controlcommand generated by the device control section 106 to all illuminationdevices whose power is in an on-state and which are installed in theroom with the description reading “living room”. Accordingly, the lightquantity of illumination devices installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room” is reduced.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 34, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 34.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases, the display control section 103 further reducesthe brightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance with the amount ofmovement (lower right diagram in FIG. 34, C3402).

The device control section 106 further generates a control command thatreduces a light quantity of an illumination device in accordance withthe amount of movement. The communication control section 107 transmitsthe control command generated by the device control section 106 to allillumination devices whose power is turned on and which are installed inthe room with the description reading “living room”. Accordingly, thelight quantity of illumination devices installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room” is further reduced.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 34, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 34.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases and exceeds a value set in advance, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 2603 with brightness equalto minimum brightness set in advance (lower left diagram in FIG. 34,C3403). The minimum brightness is set in advance to brightness lowerthan predetermined brightness (the initial brightness or, in otherwords, the brightness of regions other than the room screen).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that turnsoff an illumination device when the amount of movement of the contactposition between the contact object 1100 and the room screen 2603exceeds a value set in advance. The communication control section 107transmits the control command generated by the device control section106 to all illumination devices whose power is turned on and which areinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room”.Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devices installed in theroom with the description reading “living room” changes to an off-state.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto an example of light quantity increase control of an illuminationdevice. An upper left diagram, an upper right diagram, a lower rightdiagram, and a lower left diagram in FIG. 35 are respectively the sameas the lower left diagram, the lower right diagram, the upper rightdiagram, and the upper left diagram in FIG. 34.

The touch panel control section 102 detects that the user has touchedinside a region of the room screen 2603 in the upper left diagram inFIG. 35 by the contact object 1100 and, at the same time, the touchpanel control section 102 detects that the contact continues on the roomscreen 2603 and that a contact position moves upward. In addition, thetouch panel control section 102 detects an amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603. As a result, the display control section 103 increases thebrightness of the room screen 2603 as the amount of movement increases(upper right diagram in FIG. 35, C3501).

The device control section 106 generates a control command thatincreases a light quantity of an illumination device as the amount ofmovement increases. The communication control section 107 transmits thecontrol command generated by the device control section 106 to all ofthe illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. Accordingly, the light intensities ofall of the illumination devices installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room” increase.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 35, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 35.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases, the display control section 103 furtherincreases the brightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance with theamount of movement (lower right diagram in FIG. 35, C3502).

The device control section 106 further generates a control command thatincreases a light quantity of an illumination device in accordance withthe amount of movement. The communication control section 107 transmitsthe control command generated by the device control section 106 to allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. Accordingly, the light quantity ofillumination devices installed in the room with the description reading“living room” is increased.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 35, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 35.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases and exceeds a value set in advance, the displaycontrol section 103 sets the brightness of the room screen 2603 to theinitial brightness (lower left diagram in FIG. 35, C3503).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that turns onan illumination device at 100% light quantity when the amount ofmovement of the contact position between the contact object 1100 and theroom screen 2603 exceeds a value set in advance. The communicationcontrol section 107 transmits the control command generated by thedevice control section 106 to all of the illumination devices that areinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room”.Accordingly, all of the illumination devices installed in the room withthe description reading “living room” are turned on at 100% lightquantity.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto another example of light quantity decrease control of an illuminationdevice. An upper left diagram, an upper right diagram, a lower rightdiagram, and a lower left diagram in FIG. 36 are respectively the sameas the upper left diagram, the upper right diagram, the lower rightdiagram, and the lower left diagram in FIG. 34.

The touch panel control section 102 detects that the user has touchedinside a region of the room screen 2603 on the control screen 2600 inthe upper left diagram in FIG. 36 by the contact object 1100 and, at thesame time, the touch panel control section 102 detects that the contactcontinues on the room screen 2603 and that a contact position movesleftward. In addition, the touch panel control section 102 detects anamount of movement of the contact position between the contact object1100 and the room screen 2603. As a result, the display control section103 reduces the brightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance withthe amount of movement (upper right diagram in FIG. 36, C3601).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that reducesa light quantity of an illumination device in accordance with the amountof movement. The communication control section 107 transmits the controlcommand generated by the device control section 106 to all illuminationdevices whose power is turned on and which are installed in the roomwith the description reading “living room”. Accordingly, the lightquantity of illumination devices installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room” is reduced.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 36, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 36.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases, the display control section 103 further reducesthe brightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance with the amount ofmovement (lower right diagram in FIG. 36, C3602).

The device control section 106 further generates a control command thatreduces a light quantity of an illumination device in accordance withthe amount of movement. The communication control section 107 transmitsthe control command generated by the device control section 106 to allillumination devices whose power is turned on and which are installed inthe room with the description reading “living room”. Accordingly, thelight quantity of illumination devices installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room” is reduced.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 36, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 36.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases and exceeds a value set in advance, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen 2603 with brightness equalto minimum brightness set in advance (lower left diagram in FIG. 36,C3603).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that turnsoff an illumination device when the amount of movement of the contactposition between the contact object 1100 and the room screen 2603exceeds a value set in advance. The communication control section 107transmits the control command generated by the device control section106 to all illumination devices whose power is turned on and which areinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room”.Accordingly, power of all of the illumination devices installed in theroom with the description reading “living room” changes to an off-state.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing a transition of a display screen accordingto another example of light quantity increase control of an illuminationdevice. An upper left diagram, an upper right diagram, a lower rightdiagram, and a lower left diagram in FIG. 37 are respectively the sameas the upper left diagram, the upper right diagram, the lower rightdiagram, and the lower left diagram in FIG. 35.

The touch panel control section 102 detects that the user has touchedinside a region of the room screen 2603 in the upper left diagram inFIG. 37 by the contact object 1100 and, at the same time, the touchpanel control section 102 detects that the contact continues on the roomscreen 2603 and that a contact position moves rightward. In addition,the touch panel control section 102 detects an amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603. As a result, the display control section 103 increases thebrightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance with the amount ofmovement (upper right diagram in FIG. 37, C3701).

The device control section 106 generates a control command thatincreases a light quantity of an illumination device in accordance withthe amount of movement. The communication control section 107 transmitsthe control command generated by the device control section 106 to allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. Accordingly, light intensities of allof the illumination devices installed in the room with the descriptionreading “living room” increase.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 37, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the upper right diagram in FIG. 37.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases, the display control section 103 furtherincreases the brightness of the room screen 2603 in accordance with theamount of movement (lower right diagram in FIG. 37, C3702).

The device control section 106 further generates a control command thatincreases a light quantity of an illumination device in accordance withthe amount of movement. The communication control section 107 transmitsthe control command generated by the device control section 106 to allof the illumination devices that are installed in the room with thedescription reading “living room”. Accordingly, the light intensities ofillumination devices installed in the room with the description reading“living room” are increased.

When the contact object 1100 separates from the home controller 100 inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 37, control by thedisplay control section 103 and the device control section 106 ends inthe state shown in the lower right diagram in FIG. 37.

On the other hand, when the contact made by the contact object 1100continues on the room screen 2603 and the amount of movement of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the room screen2603 further increases and exceeds a value set in advance, the displaycontrol section 103 sets the brightness of the room screen 2603 to theinitial brightness (lower left diagram in FIG. 37, C3703).

The device control section 106 generates a control command that turns onan illumination device at 100% light quantity when the amount ofmovement of the contact position between the contact object 1100 and theroom screen 2603 exceeds a value set in advance. The communicationcontrol section 107 transmits the control command generated by thedevice control section 106 to all of the illumination devices that areinstalled in the room with the description reading “living room”.Accordingly, all of the illumination devices installed in the room withthe description reading “living room” are turned on at 100% lightquantity.

As shown in the upper left diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 37, when the touchpanel control section 102 detects that a start point of the contactposition between the contact object 1100 and the home controller 100 isinside the region of the room screen 2603, the display control by thedisplay control section 103 and the light quantity control by the devicecontrol section 106 described above are started. On the other hand, asshown in the lower left diagrams in FIGS. 34 to 37, an end point of thecontact position between the contact object 1100 and the home controller100 may be outside the region of the room screen 2603. In other words,even when the contact between the contact object 1100 and the homecontroller 100 continues to the outside of the region of the room screen2603, detection of an amount of movement by the touch panel controlsection 102 is continued and the display control by the display controlsection 103 and the light quantity control by the device control section106 in accordance with the amount of movement are continued.

As described above, by continuing a contact made by the contact object1100 to the room screen 2603 and moving the contact position, dimmercontrol of an illumination device is performed. Therefore, an operationbutton or the like for performing dimming of an illumination device neednot be separately provided on the room screen 2603. As a result, aplurality of controls including turning on/off control of power anddimmer control can be realized on the room screen 2603 with a limiteddisplay area while minimizing display materials to be displayed.

In the upper left diagrams in FIGS. 34 and 36, the room screen 2603 atthe start of dimmer control is displayed with brightness identical tothe brightness of other regions (initial brightness). In the upper leftdiagrams in FIGS. 35 and 37, the room screen 2603 at the start of dimmercontrol is displayed with brightness equal to minimum brightness set inadvance. However, the brightness of the room screens 2603 at the startof dimmer control is not limited to those described above. When anillumination device at the start of dimmer control is in an on-state ata light quantity lower than 100%, for example, as shown in the upperright diagram in FIG. 34 or the lower right diagram in FIG. 34, the roomscreen 2603 may be displayed with brightness between the brightness ofother regions (initial brightness) and the minimum brightness.

In FIGS. 34 to 37, dimming of an illumination device is described usingthe control screen 2600 (FIG. 26) of the third control pattern. However,dimmer control may be performed in a similar manner with the controlscreen 700 (FIG. 7) of the first control pattern and the control screen1600 (FIG. 16) of the second control pattern.

(Data Structure)

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a configuration of a device list 3800 thatis managed by the server 300. As shown in FIG. 38, the device list 3800includes a device ID 3801, a device type 3802, a model number 3803, anarrangement 3804, capability information 3805, a control commandtransmission destination 3806, an IP address 3807, and a status 3808.

The device ID 3801 is an identifier of the device 200. The device type3802 indicates a device type of the device 200. The model number 3803indicates a model number of the device 200. The arrangement 3804indicates a room in which the device 200 is installed.

The capability information 3805 indicates a content in which the device200 can be controlled and a state that can be acquired from the device200. For example, on/off of power and dimming can be controlled withrespect to an illumination device whose device ID is A. For example,on/off of power, a temperature, a mode, an air direction, and an airflow can be controlled with respect to an air conditioner whose deviceID is F. The control command transmission destination 3806 indicates atransmission destination of a control command for controlling the device200. For example, with respect to the illumination device whose deviceID is A, since the control command transmission destination 3806 is adevice, the control command is directly transmitted from the homecontroller 100 to the device 200. A control command is a command foroperating the device 200 and confirming a state of the device 200.

The IP address 3807 is acquired from the device 200 by the devicemanagement section 105 of the home controller 100. The server 300receives the IP address 3807 from the home controller 100 and managesthe IP address 3807. The status 3808 indicates a current state of thedevice 200. For example, in FIG. 38, it is shown that the illuminationdevice whose device ID is A is turned on at 100% light quantity. It isalso shown that an illumination device whose device ID is B is turned onat 70% light quantity. The air conditioner whose device ID is F is shownto be operating as a cooler at a set temperature of 27° C. An electricshutter apparatus whose device ID is G is shown to be closed.

The device management section 105 of the home controller 100 alsomanages the device list 3800. In this case, the device managementsection 105 may acquire contents other than the IP address 3807 from theserver 300 or directly from the device 200.

Using the device list 3800 shown in FIG. 38, the display control section103 of the home controller 100 performs brightness control of the simplecontrol button 604 shown in, for example, FIG. 6, brightness control ofthe room icon 2421 shown in FIG. 25, and the like.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a configuration of the room information3900 that is managed by the server 300. As shown in FIG. 39, the roominformation 3900 includes a room ID 3901, a room type 3902, and a story3903. The room ID 3901 is an identifier for identifying a room. The roomtype 3902 indicates a room type. The story 3903 indicates a floor onwhich the room is located.

The device management section 105 of the home controller 100 alsomanages the room information 3900. In this case, the device managementsection 105 of the home controller 100 acquires the room information3900 from the server 300 and manages the acquired room information 3900.

Using the room information 3900 shown in FIG. 39, the display controlsection 103 of the home controller 100 decides an arrangement of theroom icons 2421 shown in, for example, FIG. 24.

(System Operation)

FIG. 40 is a sequence diagram of a flow of processes by which the homecontroller 100 detects a device 200 on a network after the homecontroller 100 connects to the network. FIG. 40 will be described on theassumption that a device A 200 whose device ID is A and a device B 200whose device ID is B shown in FIG. 38 are connected to the network.

When the home controller 100 connects to the network upon initial use oractivation of the home controller 100 (S3301), the device managementsection 105 of the home controller 100 broadcasts a device searchrequest to all of the devices 200 on the network (S3302). The device A200 having received the device search request sends a device searchresponse to the home controller 100 (S3303). The home controller 100having received the device search response acquires device informationfrom the device A 200 (S3304) and updates the display screen (S3305).

In a similar manner, the device B 200 having received the device searchrequest sends a device search response to the home controller 100(S3306). The home controller 100 having received the device searchresponse acquires device information from the device B 200 (S3307) andupdates the display screen (S3308). In this case, device informationrefers to information indicating a device type, a model, capabilityinformation, and the like of the device 200. Based on the deviceinformation, the device management section 105 of the home controller100 generates the device list 3800 (refer to FIG. 38).

FIG. 41 is a sequence diagram of a flow of processes by which the homecontroller 100 detects a device 200 on a network when the device 200connects to the network. When the device A 200 connects to the networkupon initial use or activation (S3401), the device A 200 broadcasts anetwork connection notification to all of the home controllers 100 onthe network (S3402). In the home controller 100 having received thenetwork connection notification, the device management section 105acquires device information from the device A 200 (S3403) and thedisplay control section 103 updates the display screen (S3404). Aprocess that is performed upon connection of the device B 200 to thenetwork is similar to that of the device A 200 (S3405 to S3408).

FIG. 42 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 directly controls the device 200. First, the touchpanel control section 102 of the home controller 100 detects anoperation of the simple control button 503 or the room screen 703 (FIG.7 for instance), 1603 (FIG. 16 for instance), 2603 (FIG. 26 forinstance) by the user (S3801). Next, the device control section 106 ofthe home controller 100 generates a control command corresponding to theoperation by the user and transmits the control command to the device200 (S3802).

The device 200 having received the control command executes the controlcommand (S3803) and transmits a control result to the home controller100 (S3804). The display control section 103 of the home controller 100having received the control result updates the display screen accordingto the control result (S3805).

FIG. 43 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 controls the device 200 via the server 300. First,the touch panel control section 102 of the home controller 100 detectsan operation of the simple control button 503 or the room screen 703(FIG. 7 for instance), 1603 (FIG. 16 for instance), 2603 (FIG. 26 forinstance) by the user (S3901). Next, the device control section 106 ofthe home controller 100 generates a control command corresponding to theoperation by the user and transmits the control command to the server300 (S3902).

The server 300 having received the control command transmits therelevant control command to the device 200 (S3903). The device 200having received the control command executes the control command (S3904)and transmits a control result to the server 300 (S3905). The server 300having received the control result transmits the control result to thehome controller 100 (S3906). The display control section 103 of the homecontroller 100 having received the control result updates the displayscreen according to the control result (S3907).

FIG. 44 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 checks a device state of the device 200 via theserver 300. First, the device 200 transmits a current device state tothe server 300 (S4001). In this case, the device 200 transmits a devicestate to the server 300 when turned on, when turned off, when the devicestate changes, or periodically, and causes the server 300 to storedevice states. Moreover, the process of S4001 may be asynchronouslyexecuted with respect to processes of S4002 to S4006.

Next, the touch panel control section 102 of the home controller 100detects an operation of the controller application icon 501 (FIG. 5) bythe user (S4002). The device control section 106 of the home controller100 then generates a control command corresponding to the operation bythe user and transmits the control command to the server 300 (S4003). Inthis case, a control command for checking the device state of the device200 is generated.

The server 300 having received the control command searches for acurrent device state of the relevant device 200 (S4004) and transmitsthe device state of the relevant device 200 as a control result to thehome controller 100 (S4005). The display control section 103 of the homecontroller 100 having received the control result updates the displayscreen according to the control result (S4006). For example, whendisplaying the top screen 600 (FIG. 6), 1500 (FIG. 15) and the like, thedisplay control section 103 controls brightness of the simple controlbutton 604 in accordance with the status of the device.

FIG. 45 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 directly controls the device 200 in a case where thehome controller 100 controls a plurality of devices 200 by a singleoperation. A description will now be given using a case where the homecontroller 100 controls a device A 200 and a device B 200. In addition,it is assumed that the device A 200 and the device B 200 are, forinstance, illumination devices which are installed in one room and whichare controlled by an operation made on the simple control button 604(FIG. 15) in the second control pattern, on the room screen 1603 (FIG.16 for instance) in the second control pattern, or on the room screen2603 (FIG. 26 for instance) in the third control pattern.

First, the touch panel control section 102 of the home controller 100detects an operation of the simple control button 604, the room screen1603, or the room screen 2603 by the user (S4101). Next, the devicecontrol section 106 of the home controller 100 generates a controlcommand corresponding to the operation by the user and transmits thecontrol command to the device A 200 (S4102).

The device A 200 having received the control command executes thecontrol command (S4103) and transmits a control result to the homecontroller 100 (S4104).

Next, the device control section 106 of the home controller 100transmits, to the device B 200, a same control command as the controlcommand transmitted to the device A 200 (S4105). The device B 200 havingreceived the control command executes the control command (S4106) andtransmits a control result to the home controller 100 (S4107).

The display control section 103 of the home controller 100 havingreceived the control result updates the display screen according to thecontrol result (S4108). In this case, for example, the brightness of thesimple control button 604, the room screen 1603, or the room screen 2603is updated according to the control result.

FIG. 46 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 controls the device 200 via the server 300 in a casewhere the home controller 100 controls a plurality of devices 200 by asingle operation. A description will now be given using a case where thehome controller 100 controls a device A 200 and a device B 200. Inaddition, it is assumed that the device A 200 and the device B 200 are,for instance, illumination devices which are installed in one room andwhich are controlled by an operation made on the simple control button604 (FIG. 15) in the second control pattern, on the room screen 1603(FIG. 16 for instance) in the second control pattern, or on the roomscreen 2603 (FIG. 26 for instance) in the third control pattern.

First, the touch panel control section 102 of the home controller 100detects an operation of the simple control button 604, the room screen1603, or the room screen 2603 by the user (S4201).

Next, the device control section 106 of the home controller 100generates a control command for the device A 200 which corresponds tothe operation by the user and transmits the control command to theserver 300 (S4202).

The server 300 having received the control command for the device A 200transmits the control command to the device A 200 (S4203). The device A200 having received the control command executes the control command(S4204) and transmits a control result to the server 300 (54205). Theserver 300 having received the control result transmits the controlresult to the home controller 100 (S4206).

In a similar manner, the device control section 106 of the homecontroller 100 generates a control command for the device B 200 whichcorresponds to the operation by the user and transmits the controlcommand to the server 300 (S4207).

The server 300 having received the control command transmits the controlcommand to the device B 200 (S4208). The device B 200 having receivedthe control command executes the control command (S4209) and transmits acontrol result to the server 300 (S4210). The server 300 having receivedthe control result transmits the control result to the home controller100 (S4211).

Subsequently, the display control section 103 of the home controller 100updates the display screen according to the control result in the sameway as S4108 in FIG. 45 (S4212).

FIG. 47 is a sequence diagram showing a flow of processes by which thehome controller 100 controls the device 200 via the server 300 in a casewhere the home controller 100 controls a plurality of devices 200 by asingle operation. A description will now be given using a case where thehome controller 100 controls a device A 200 and a device B 200. Inaddition, it is assumed that the device A 200 and the device B 200 are,for instance, illumination devices which are installed in one room andwhich are controlled by an operation made on the simple control button604 (FIG. 15) in the second control pattern, on the room screen 1603(FIG. 16 for instance) in the second control pattern, or on the roomscreen 2603 (FIG. 26 for instance) in the third control pattern.

First, the touch panel control section 102 of the home controller 100detects an operation of the simple control button 604, the room screen1603, or the room screen 2603 by the user (S4301).

Next, the device control section 106 of the home controller 100generates a control command for the device A 200 and the device B 200 inaccordance with the operation by the user and transmits the controlcommand to the server 300 (S4302).

The server 300 having received the control command transmits the controlcommand to the device A 200 (S4303). The device A 200 having receivedthe control command executes the control command (S4304) and transmits acontrol result to the server 300 (S4305).

In a similar manner, the server 300 transmits the control command to thedevice B 200 (S4306). The device B 200 having received the controlcommand executes the control command (S4307) and transmits a controlresult to the server 300 (S4308). The server 300 having received thecontrol results of the device A 200 and the device B 200 transmits thecontrol results to the home controller 100 (54309).

Subsequently, the display control section 103 of the home controller 100updates the display screen according to the control result in the sameway as S4108 in FIG. 45 (S4310).

FIG. 48 is a flow chart showing an overall process of the homecontroller 100. FIG. 48 shows a process of the home controller 100according to the first control pattern described earlier with referenceto FIGS. 6 to 14.

In S4801, the controller application icon 501 on the basic screen 500(FIG. 5) of the home controller 100 is tapped to start up an applicationof the home control system.

In S4802, the device management section 105 of the home controller 100detects a device 200 connected to a network through a process shown in,for example, the sequence diagrams in FIGS. 40 and 41. At this point,since device information is acquired (for example, S3304 in FIG. 40),the device management section 105 of the home controller 100 maygenerate the device list 3800 (FIG. 38).

In S4803, the display control section 103 displays the top screen 600(FIG. 6) on the display 101. Using the device information acquired inS4802, the display control section 103 controls brightness of the simplecontrol button 604 on the top screen 600 in accordance with an on/offstate of power of each device.

In S4804, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notthe device selection button 601 on the top screen 600 has been selected.If the device selection button 601 has been selected (YES in S4804), thetouch panel control section 102 determines whether or not anillumination device has been selected (S4805). In S4805, a determinationis made on whether or not the device name 602 of the selected deviceselection button 601 is “illumination”.

If an illumination device has been selected (YES in S4805), in S4806, anillumination control screen display process (FIGS. 52 and 53 to bedescribed later) is executed and the process returns to S4802. If anillumination device has not been selected (NO in S4805), in S4807, acontrol screen display process of another device (FIG. 54 be describedlater) is executed and the process returns to S4802.

In S4804, if the device selection button 601 is not selected (NO inS4804), in S4808, the touch panel control section 102 determines whetheror not the simple control button 604 on the top screen 600 has beenselected. If the simple control button 604 has not been selected (NO inS4808), the process returns to S4804.

When the simple control button 604 is selected (YES in S4808), thedevice control section 106 generates a control command that controls acorresponding device to an on-state or an off-state (S4809). In S4810, acontrol command transmission process (FIG. 55 to be described later) isexecuted. In S4811, the display control section 103 updates a screendisplay based on a control result. Subsequently, the process returns toS4804.

By tapping a home button (not shown) or an end application button (notshown) displayed on the display 101 of the home controller 100, the usercan end the application of the home control system shown in FIG. 48 atan arbitrary timing. This also applies to the processes shown in FIGS.49 and 50 to be described later.

FIG. 49 is a flow chart showing an overall process of the homecontroller 100. FIG. 49 shows a process of the home controller 100according to the second control pattern described earlier with referenceto FIGS. 15 to 23.

S4901 and S4902 are the same as S4801 and S4802 in FIG. 48. In S4903,the display control section 103 displays the top screen 1500 (FIG. 15)on the display 101. Using the device information acquired in S4902, thedisplay control section 103 controls brightness of the simple controlbutton 604 on the top screen 1500 in accordance with an on/off state ofpower of each device.

In S4904, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notthe room selection button 1501 on the top screen 1500 has been selected.If the room selection button 1501 has been selected (YES in S4904), thetouch panel control section 102 determines whether or not anillumination device has been selected (S4905). In other words, in S4905,a determination is made on whether or not the device name 1503 of theselected room selection button 1501 is “illumination”.

If an illumination device has been selected (YES in S4905), theillumination control screen display process (S4906: FIGS. 52 and 53 tobe described later) is executed and the process returns to S4902. If anillumination device has not been selected (NO in S4905), in S4907, acontrol screen display process of another device (FIG. 54 to bedescribed later) is executed and the process returns to S4902.

In S4904, if the device selection button 601 is not selected (NO inS4904), in S4908, the touch panel control section 102 determines whetheror not the simple control button 604 on the top screen 1500 has beenselected. Subsequent steps S4909 to S4911 are the same as S4809 to S4811in FIG. 48.

FIG. 50 is a flow chart showing an overall process of the homecontroller 100. FIG. 50 shows a process of the home controller 100according to the third control pattern described earlier with referenceto FIGS. 24 to 33B.

S5001 and S5002 are the same as S4801 and S4802 in FIG. 48. In S5003,the display control section 103 displays the top screen 2400 (FIG. 24)on the display 101.

In S5004, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notthe device type icon 2411 on the top screen 2400 has been selected. Whenthe device type icon 2411 is selected (YES in S5004), the displaycontrol section 103 executes a room icon display update process (FIG. 51to be described later) in S5005 and the process returns to S5004.

In S5004, if the device type icon 2411 is not selected (NO in S5004), inS5006, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or not theroom icon 2421 on the top screen 2400 has been selected. When the roomicon 2421 is selected (YES in S5006), the touch panel control section102 determines whether or not the device type icon 2411 has already beenselected (S5007). If the device type icon 2411 has not been selected yet(NO in S5007), the process returns to S5004. At this point, the displaycontrol section 103 may display a message prompting the user to selectthe device type icon 2411.

If the device type icon 2411 has already been selected (YES in S5007),in S5008, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notthe device type icon 2411 representing an illumination device has beenselected.

If the device type icon 2411 representing an illumination device hasbeen selected (YES in S5008), in S5009, the illumination control screendisplay process (FIGS. 52 and 53 to be described later) is executed andthe process returns to S5002. If the device type icon 2411 representingan illumination device has not been selected (NO in S5008), in S5010, acontrol screen display process of another device (FIG. 54 to bedescribed later) is executed and the process returns to S5002.

In S5006, if the room icon 2421 is not selected (NO in S5006), in S5011,the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or not the devicetype switching button 2412 on the top screen 2400 has been selected. Ifthe device type switching button 2412 has been selected (YES in S5011),the display control section 103 switches device type icons 2411 to bedisplayed in the device selection region 2410. If the device typeswitching button 2412 has not been selected (NO in S5011), the processreturns to S5004.

FIG. 51 is a flow chart showing a room icon display update process thatis executed in S5005 in FIG. 50.

In S5101, the display control section 103 determines whether or notrooms corresponding to all room icons 2421 displayed on the top screen2400 (FIG. 24) have been checked. If the rooms corresponding to all ofthe room icons 2421 have been checked (YES in S5101), the displaycontrol section 103 ends the process shown in FIG. 51.

If the rooms corresponding to all of the room icons 2421 have not beenchecked (NO in S5101), in S5102, the display control section 103determines a state of a device which is represented by the device typeicon 2411 selected in S5004 in FIG. 50 and which is installed in a roomcorresponding to one room icon 2421. At this point, when a plurality ofdevices are installed in the room of concern, the display controlsection 103 determines the states of all of the devices.

When power of at least one device installed in the room of concern isturned on (ON in S5102), in S5103, the display control section 103displays the room icon 2421 with brightness not lower than predeterminedbrightness. On the other hand, when power of all of the devicesinstalled in the room of concern is turned off or when no devices areinstalled in the room of concern (OFF or NOT INSTALLED in S5102), inS5104, the display control section 103 displays the room icon 2421 withbrightness lower than the predetermined brightness.

Due to the process shown in FIG. 51, the display control section 103displays the top screen 2400 shown in FIG. 25 on the display 101 of thehome controller 100. In the example shown in FIG. 25, in S5103, thedisplay control section 103 displays the room icon 2421 with brightnessequal to the predetermined brightness (initial brightness).

In S5102, the display control section 103 may acquire a current statefrom the device 200 to perform the determination of S5102.Alternatively, in S5102, the display control section 103 may perform thedetermination of S5102 using the state of the device 200 acquired inS5002 in FIG. 50.

FIGS. 52 and 53 are flow charts showing an illumination control screendisplay process that is executed in S4806 in FIG. 48, S4906 in FIG. 49,and S5009 in FIG. 50.

In S5201, the display control section 103 displays a control screenincluding a room screen representing a room in which an illuminationdevice is installed on the display 101. In the case of the process ofS4806 in FIG. 48, the display control section 103 displays the controlscreen 700 (for example, FIG. 7) including the room screen 703 on thedisplay 101. In the case of the process of S4906 in FIG. 49, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the control screen 1600 (for example, FIG.16) including the room screen 1603 on the display 101. In the case ofthe process of S5009 in FIG. 50, the display control section 103displays the control screen 2600 (for example, FIG. 26) including theroom screen 2603 on the display 101.

In S5202, the display control section 103 acquires device informationfrom the illumination device installed in the room represented by theroom screen and determines whether or not power of the illuminationdevice is in an on-state. If the power of the illumination device is inan off-state (NO in S5202), in S5203, the display control section 103displays the room screen at minimum brightness set in advance.

On the other hand, if the power of the illumination device is in anon-state (YES in S5202), in S5204, the display control section 103displays the room screen with brightness in accordance with a lightquantity of the illumination device. If the illumination device is in anon-state and the light quantity thereof is set to 100%, the displaycontrol section 103 displays the room screen at maximum brightness (tobe described later) set in advance. If the illumination device is in anon-state and the light quantity thereof is set lower than 100%, thedisplay control section 103 displays the room screen with brightnessbetween the maximum brightness and the minimum brightness in accordancewith the light quantity of the illumination device.

In the case of the processes of S4906 in FIG. 49 and S5009 in FIG. 50,the display control section 103 makes a determination of NO in S5202 ifpower of all illumination devices is in an off-state and makes adetermination of YES in S5202 if power of at least one illuminationdevice is in an on-state.

In S5301, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether acontact made by the contact object 1100 has been detected inside aregion of the room screen. When a contact made by the contact object1100 is detected (YES in S5301), in S5302, the touch panel controlsection 102 determines whether or not the contact made by the contactobject 1100 has continued and a movement of the contact object 1100 hasbeen detected.

A failure to detect a movement of the contact object 1100 (NO in S5302)means that tapping by the contact object 1100 has been detected.Therefore, in S5303, the device control section 106 decides on a controlfor switching between on and off states of an illumination device. InS5304, the device control section 106 generates a control commandcorresponding to the decided control. In S5305, the communicationcontrol section 107 executes a control command transmission process(FIG. 55 to be described later). Subsequently, the process returns toS5202. In S5202 to S5204, the display control section 103 changes thebrightness of the room screen in accordance with a control result.

In S5302, when the touch panel control section 102 detects a movement ofthe contact object 1100 (YES in S5302), the touch panel control section102 calculates an amount of movement of the contact object 1100 from adetection point resulting from a previously performed S5302. In S5306,the touch panel control section 102 determines a direction of movementof the contact object 1100. If the direction of movement of the contactobject 1100 is upward or rightward in S5306, in S5307, the devicecontrol section 106 decides on control for increasing a light quantityof the illumination device in accordance with the amount of movement ofthe contact object 1100 and the process advances to S5304. If thedirection of movement of the contact object 1100 is downward or leftwardin S5306, in S5308, the device control section 106 decides on controlfor decreasing a light quantity of the illumination device in accordancewith the amount of movement of the contact object 1100 and the processadvances to S5304.

In S5301, if a contact made by the contact object 1100 is not detectedinside the region of the room screen (NO in S5301), in S5309, the touchpanel control section 102 determines whether or not the device switchingbutton or the room switching button or the floor switching button hasbeen selected.

When the device switching button or the room switching button or thefloor switching button has been selected (YES in S5309), the displaycontrol section 103 switches control screens to be displayed in S5310.Subsequently, the process returns to S5301.

In S5309, when the right-side device switching button 704 is selected asshown in, for example, the upper left diagram in FIG. 14, in S5310, thedisplay control section 103 switches the control screen to be displayedfrom the control screen 700 (upper left diagram in FIG. 14) to thecontrol screen 1400 (upper right diagram in FIG. 14).

In S5309, when the right-side room switching button 1604 is selected asshown in, for example, the upper left diagram in FIG. 23, in S5310, thedisplay control section 103 switches the control screen to be displayedfrom the control screen 1600 (upper left diagram in FIG. 23) to thecontrol screen 2200 (upper right diagram in FIG. 23).

In S5309, when the upper floor switching button 2605 is selected asshown in, for example, the upper diagram in FIG. 33B, in S5310, thedisplay control section 103 switches the control screen to be displayedfrom the control screen 2600 (upper diagram in FIG. 33B) to the controlscreen 2800 (lower diagram in FIG. 33B).

In S5309, when none of the device switching button, the room switchingbutton, and the floor switching button has been selected (NO in S5309),in S5311, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notthe top screen switching button 702 or 1602 or 2602 has been selected.In S5311, if the top screen switching button 702 or 1602 or 2602 is notselected (NO in S5311), the process returns to S5301.

In S5311, if the top screen switching button 702 or 1602 or 2602 isselected (YES in S5311), the processes shown in FIGS. 52 and 53 areended.

The “minimum brightness” as used in S5203 in FIG. 52 is set in advanceto brightness that is lower than the predetermined brightness (theinitial brightness or, in other words, the brightness of regions otherthan the room screen). The “maximum brightness” as used in S5204 in FIG.52 is set in advance to brightness that is equal to the predeterminedbrightness (the initial brightness or, in other words, the brightness ofregions other than the room screen).

In S5306 in FIG. 53, “upward” refers a direction of movement of thecontact object in which an upward component is greater than a leftwardcomponent and a rightward component. “Downward” refers a direction ofmovement of the contact object in which a downward component is greaterthan a leftward component and a rightward component. “Rightward” refersa direction of movement of the contact object in which a rightwardcomponent is greater than an upward component and a downward component.“Leftward” refers a direction of movement of the contact object in whicha leftward component is greater than an upward component and a downwardcomponent.

The processes shown in FIGS. 52 and 53 are executed at a cycle of, forexample, 10 msec. In other words, in S5302 in FIG. 53, the touch panelcontrol section 102 calculates the amount of movement of the contactobject 1100 at intervals of 10 msec. In S5305 in FIG. 53, the devicecontrol section 106 transmits a control command to an illuminationdevice at intervals of 10 msec. In S5204 in FIG. 52, the display controlsection 103 controls brightness of a room screen at intervals of 10msec.

As a result, as shown in, for example, FIG. 34, screen transitionsC3401, C3402, and C3403 of display screens are performed smoothly.Moreover, the cycle of processes is not limited to 10 msec. Any cyclemay be adopted as long as a screen transition of display screens anddimmer control of an illumination device are performed smoothly.

FIG. 54 is a flow chart showing a control screen display process ofanother device that is executed in S4807 in FIG. 48, S4907 in FIG. 49,and S5010 in FIG. 50.

In S5401, the display control section 103 displays a control screen inaccordance with a selected device on the display 101. For example, ifthe device is an air conditioner, the display control section 103displays a control screen capable of setting a mode, a temperature, anair direction, and an air flow.

In S5402, the touch panel control section 102 determines whether or notan operation for controlling the device has been performed with respectto the control screen. When an operation for controlling the device hasbeen performed with respect to the control screen (YES in S5402), inS5403, the device control section 106 generates a control command inaccordance with the operation. In S5404, the communication controlsection 107 executes a control command transmission process (FIG. 55 tobe described later). In S5405, the display control section 103 updates ascreen display in accordance with a control result. Subsequently, theprocess returns to S5402.

In S5402, when an operation for controlling the device is not performedwith respect to the control screen (NO in S5402), the touch panelcontrol section 102 determines whether or not the top screen switchingbutton 702 or 1602 or 2602 has been selected in S5406.

If the top screen switching button 702 or 1602 or 2602 is not selected(NO in S5406), the process returns to S5402. In S5406, if the top screenswitching button 702 or 1602 or 2602 is selected (YES in S5406), theprocess shown in FIG. 54 is ended.

FIG. 55 is a flow chart showing the control command transmission processthat is executed in S5305 in FIG. 53 and in S5404 in FIG. 54. First, thedevice control section 106 determines whether or not the home controller100 is connected to a home network (S3701). If the home controller 100is connected to the home network (YES in S3701), the device controlsection 106 checks a transmission destination of a control commandaccording to contents of the control command transmission destination3806 in the device list 3800 shown in FIG. 38 (S3702).

In this case, a home network refers to a network in the home of theuser. Therefore, if the user is operating the home controller 100 fromoutside of the home, a determination of NO is made in S3701, and if theuser is operating the home controller 100 from inside the home, adetermination of YES is made in S3701.

In S3702, if the transmission destination of the control command is a“device”, the device control section 106 transmits the control commandto the relevant device 200 (S3703). On the other hand, in S3702, if thetransmission destination of the control command is a “server”, thedevice control section 106 transmits the control command to the server300 (S3704).

For example, in the device list 3800 (FIG. 38), since the controlcommand transmission destination 3806 for an illumination device is“device”, the device control section 106 transmits the control commandto the illumination device. On the other hand, in the device list 3800,since the control command transmission destination 3806 for an airconditioner is “server”, the device control section 106 transmits thecontrol command to the server 300. In addition, even when it isdetermined in S3701 that the home controller 100 is not connected to thehome network (NO in S3701), the process of S3704 is performed. In otherwords, when the home controller 100 is outside of home, the device 200is controlled via the server 300.

In S3705, the device control section 106 receives a control result fromthe device 200 or the server 300. Next, when transmission of the controlcommand has been completed to all of the devices 200 to besimultaneously operated (YES in S3706), the process of FIG. 55 is ended.On the other hand, when transmission of the control command has not beencompleted to all of the devices 200 to be simultaneously operated (NO inS3706), the device control section 106 returns to the process of S3702and repeats the processes of S3702 and thereafter.

For example, when two illumination devices are installed in a same roomand the two illumination devices are simultaneously operated as in theabove second control pattern or the third control pattern, the devicecontrol section 106 transmits the control command to each of the twoillumination devices as shown in FIGS. 45 to 47 for example. Moreover, adetermination of NO is not made in S3706 for a device 200 that is notoperated at the same time as other devices 200.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure is useful as a control method and a program forcontrolling one or more illumination devices connected to a network.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling an information apparatushaving a display and being connected to a network, one or more targetdevices being controlled over the network, the method causing a computerof the information apparatus to: display, on the display, a displayimage, which specifies a plurality of illumination devices in roomunits; in response to detecting a selection of an illumination device,of the plurality of illumination devices, in a first room unit on thedisplay image, display, on the display, a first room screen including afirst room corresponding to the first room unit in which the selectionof the illumination device is detected, the first room being displayedwith first brightness not lower than second brightness of a backgroundimage when a first illumination device arranged in the first room is inan on-state, the first room screen including the first room and notincluding a room other than the first room; in response to detecting aselection of the illumination device in the first room unit on thedisplay image, display, on the display, the first room screen includingthe first room being displayed with third brightness lower than thesecond brightness of the background image when the first illuminationdevice arranged in the first room is in an off-state; output, to thenetwork, a first control command for turning off power of the firstillumination device arranged in the first room, when selection withinthe first room in the first room screen is detected while the first roomscreen including the first room with the first brightness not lower thanthe second brightness of the background image is being displayed on thedisplay; and output, to the network, a second control command forturning on power of the first illumination device arranged in the firstroom, when selection within the first room in the first room screen isdetected while the first room screen including the first room with thethird brightness lower than the second brightness of the backgroundimage is being displayed on the display.
 2. The method according toclaim 1, further causing the computer of the information apparatus to:in response to detecting a selection of an illumination device, of theplurality of illumination devices, in a second room unit on the displayimage, display, on the display, a second room screen including a secondroom corresponding to the second room unit in which the selection of theillumination device is detected, the second room being displayed withthe first brightness not lower than the second brightness of thebackground image when a second illumination device arranged in thesecond room is in an on-state, the second room screen including thesecond room and not including a room other than the second room; inresponse to detecting a selection of the illumination device in thesecond room unit on the display image, display, on the display, thesecond room screen including the second room being displayed with thethird brightness lower than the second brightness of the backgroundimage when the second illumination device arranged in the second room isin an off-state; output, to the network, a third control command forturning off power of the second illumination device arranged in thesecond room, when selection within the second room in the second roomscreen is detected while the second room screen including the secondroom with the first brightness not lower than the second brightness ofthe background image is being displayed on the display; and output, tothe network, a fourth control command for turning on power of the secondillumination device arranged in the second room, when selection withinthe second room in the second room screen is detected while the secondroom screen including the second room with the third brightness lowerthan the second brightness of the background image is being displayed onthe display.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein when two ormore illumination devices are arranged in the first room, the firstcontrol command is used to turn off power of the two or moreillumination devices, and the second control command is used to turn onpower of the two or more illumination devices.
 4. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch panel display.
 5. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch paneldisplay, and the method further causes the computer of the informationapparatus to: output, to the network, a fifth control command when acontact with the display is detected on the first room screen and whenit is detected that the contact with the display moves on the first roomscreen, the fifth control command changing a light quantity of the firstillumination device arranged in the first room in accordance with anamount of movement of the contact with the display.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 5, wherein the fifth control command changes thelight quantity of the first illumination device more as the amount ofthe movement increases.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay comprises a touch panel display, and the method further causesthe computer of the information apparatus to: output, to the network, asixth control command when a contact with the display is detected on thefirst room screen and when it is detected that the contact with thedisplay moves on the first room screen, the sixth control commandchanging a light quantity of the first illumination device arranged inthe first room in accordance with a direction of movement of the contactwith the display.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the sixthcontrol command increases the light quantity of the first illuminationdevice arranged in the first room when the direction of the movement isupward on the first room screen, and decreases the light quantity of thefirst illumination device arranged in the first room when the directionof the movement is downward on the first room screen.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the first room screen displayed on thedisplay includes the first room with brightness equal to the secondbrightness of the background image when the first illumination devicearranged in the first room is in an on-state, and the second room screendisplayed on the display includes the second room with brightness equalto the second brightness of the background image when the secondillumination device arranged in the second room is in an on-state.
 10. Anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a programto be executed by an information apparatus having a display and beingconnected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled overthe network, the program causing a computer of the information apparatusto: display, on the display, a display image, which specifies aplurality of illumination devices in room units; in response todetecting a selection of an illumination device, of the plurality ofillumination devices, in a first room unit on the display image,display, on the display, a first room screen including a first roomcorresponding to the first room unit in which the selection of theillumination device is detected, the first room being displayed withfirst brightness not lower than second brightness of a background imagewhen a first illumination device arranged in the first room is in anon-state, the first room screen including the first room and notincluding a room other than the first room; in response to detecting aselection of the illumination device in the first room unit on thedisplay image, display, on the display, the first room screen includingthe first room being displayed with third brightness lower than thesecond brightness of the background image when the first illuminationdevice arranged in the first room is in an off-state; output, to thenetwork, a first control command for turning off power of the firstillumination device arranged in the first room, when selection withinthe first room in the first room screen is detected while the first roomscreen including the first room with the first brightness not lower thanthe second brightness of the background image is being displayed on thedisplay; and output, to the network, a second control command forturning on power of the first illumination device arranged in the firstroom, when selection within the first room in the first room screen isdetected while the first room including the first room with the thirdbrightness lower than the second brightness of the background image isbeing displayed on the display.